Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1858 — A Sensible Horse. [ARTICLE]

A Sensible Horse.

The King's birthday, (celebrated by the poet, Ferguson.) used always to ha a grand gala-day iij various places in Scotland, particularly in Edinburg. Amidst other festivities there was usually a grand military review of the troops in the city and surrounding suburbs—militia, volunteers, all who shouldered the musket, turned out to do honor to the occasion. In short, it was a regular holiday for everybody; every workshop closed—every school-house—all turned out arid “dress’d in their best as on Sunday.” And didn't every urchin rejoice in anticipation at the return of this day, redolent of splendor, bustle, noise and big wonders! But to our tale: Upon one such occasion as above, the troops had-all inarched to their place of rendezvous, a large common about a mile from the city, when the Colonel of a MYragoon Regiment.proceeded to put his troops in order. Meantime, a brewer's dray was observed leisurely proceeding on its avocation, about three hundred yards from the spot, and the bugle had no sooner sounded for the regiment to wheel into line, when away started the horse in full career, and his driver after him; nor did lie stop till he brought up in line right at the head of the regiment, dray, barrels and all, to the infinite amusement of all who witnessed the oddity of the scene. The poor driver arrived at length, quite out of breath, and swore that the devil had certainly taken possession of his horse! It was ascertained, however, that the noble animal had been an old cavalry charger, and, notwithsl'adning iris present degradation, had not quite forgotten his old military proclivities. The Colonel and the other officers of the regiment not liking the degraded position of this poor old hero'of a hundred battles, generously subscribed and bought him from his owner, and had him regularly entered upon the regimental list, had his rations doled out to him, and when the regiment was ordered for foreign service, tho poor old veteran was sent th the Colonel’s park there to end hi* days in peace and ease.