LACERATED TONGUE. 45 
single moral attribute. Who deserves blame for such an abuse of re- 
sponsibility ? He who has been educated into knowingness, and, having 
become thoroughly degraded, esteems himself fully qualified for the situa- 
tion he demands to fill, or he who, having the benefit of education, and 
being blessed with leisure for self-inquiry, shirks his duty and transfers 
his authority to unworthy hands? 
Every groom fancies he knows how to compound something he calls a 
condition ball,—that is, a certain mixture of drugs, which shall bring a 
living body suddenly into “tip-top” health. A bevy of companions are 
invited to see “Jim give a ball.” They duly arrive, and part of the 
horse’s tongue is speedily made to protrude from the mouth, this portion 
being firmly held by “Jim’s” free hand. The condition ball is in ‘‘Jim’s” 
STICKING TO A HORSE. 
other hand, and the exhibition consists in the marvelous adroitness with 
which the ball can be introduced between the animal’s jaws. The horse 
soon sympathizes with the excitement that surrounds it. Jim, “quick 
as lightning,” makes a thrust with the ball, whereupon the startled 
animal raises the head and retreats. ‘Stick to him, Jim!” “stick to 
him !” shout the visitors. Jim does stick to him until his hand is covered 
with blood, or, without quitting its gripe, suddenly loses the resistance, 
which constituted its hold. Should it be the former, the frenum of the 
tongue is ruptured, and a wetted sponge soon clears the hand of the 
groom as well as the mouth of the horse. A general curse and a kick 
under the belly of the rebellious steed end the amusements for one day. 
Should it be the latter, Jim finds the larger portion of the quadruped’s 
tongue left in his hand. This is an awful accident. The blood is wiped 
off, and the groom next morning goes to his master with, ‘‘ Please, sir, 
see what ‘Fugleman’ has done in his sleep !” 
