74 OINKY O'SHEA. 



will it? If you want him to come back honest like, 

 spake to him and he'll mind ye. Nothing else for 

 Spangle, and let me tell you if you are racing and out 

 to win, you'll find that there is more needs pushing 

 than pulling." You should have seen the man look 

 at him ; but finally Oiney told him at dinner, "If you 

 don't like him, just lave him and I'll bate the horse 

 you buy with him." That settled it. 



I expected that every one about the place would 

 be in tears when Spangle was led away and, to tell 

 you the truth, I felt that way myself, but not a bit of 

 it. On the other hand, Oiney kissed his wife and 

 said, "Nora, darlin', that was a bargain," while Terry 

 stood on his head and laughed until I thought he 

 would split. Years after I learned the grounds for 

 all this merriment. It seems that Spangle would not 

 go in any other rig. With a bit in his mouth he 

 would "jib" or run side ways, and when you put a 

 saddle on him there was war. He would cring and 

 stick up his back when he felt it, and when the man 

 mounted he was off, but not the way or where you 

 wanted him. Terry told me it was simply awful to 

 see the way he would kick, plunge, bolt, or take off at 

 a wall or fence, and if you put a spur into him he 

 would lie down and try to roll on you. Oiney had 

 sold him at least half a dozen times without a recom- 

 mend "mind ye" and always took him back at a re- 

 duction. But with a bare back and a rope in his 

 mouth, if you would be "aisy with him, ye spalpeen," 

 he would go through fire and water or over any stone 

 wall in the country. All you had to do was to speak 

 to him, give him a clip with your heels, and he was 

 off, and if after the hounds he would never stop, no 



