CHAPTER XXV

"COME AND DANCE IN THE BARN"



Although very fond of horses and driving it was not until 1888 that
we indulged ourselves in that direction.

When we built "Redstone" we planned where we would put the stable
when ready for it, but were in no hurry about building.

For fast horses I had no liking. My taste was for high-stepping
carriage horses. A pair that could pull a heavy T-cart with four
people eight or nine miles an hour and keep it up without urging,
were fast enough in my opinion. I wanted high-spirited, blooded
animals, fine carriages, and perfect appointments. Until I could
afford such, I preferred to go without.

In the spring I bought a pair of Black Vermont Morgans. They were
beauties and the whole family fell in love with them at once. For
the summer I secured the use of a neighbor's unoccupied stable
and then commenced the erection of my own. After this was finished
I matched my first horses with another pair exactly like them and
also bought a small pony for the younger children and a larger one
for the boys.

It was not long before I had trained my horses to drive either