Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 November 1898 — No Swapping. [ARTICLE]

No Swapping.

“It’s no time to swap horses, when you are crossing a stream,” said President Lincoln, on being urged to changeone general for another, on the eve eC a battle, but this story suggests the origin of the famous reply. A Hoosier was traveling down the Ohio on a steamboat, with his mare and her 2-year-old colt. The careening of the steamer, as she grazed * sandbar, pitched him and his bonsee into the river. As he rose, puffing ui blowing, he caught hold of the colt'* tail. The mare made for the shore, but the frightened colt swam down the carrent. “Let go the colt and catch on to th* mare!” shouted the passengers on the boat. “That’s easy said,” exclaimed th* Hoosier, “but this ain’t exactly thn time for swapping horses to a mas that can’t swim.”