[Illustration: 9084]
T was a queer, very queer name, but the soldiers gave it to him, and
when you hear how he conducted himself you will not wonder. Daddy Tough
lived in a fort in the western country, and he belonged to the United
States Government. On one side he had the letters "U. S." branded, in
order to keep people from stealing him. The children in the fort all
called those letters "Uncle Sam," and everything with that mark on it
was said to belong to Uncle Sam, meaning the Government.
The children about the fort used to ride on his back in a sort of double
saddle made of willow. One day the soldiers took him inside of a small
gate in order to remove some ashes from a cellar. The cart was backed in
and Daddy stood with his head just outside of the gate. He looked like
a droll picture in a frame. There he stood winking his eyes and shaking
his long ears. When the soldiers had the ashes all in the wagon they
told Daddy to go on, but he would not move; then they coaxed him but he
did not stir. His driver pelted and pulled, but Daddy winked and never
moved a step.
"We must get him away somehow," said the soldiers, and at last they
struck him. Daddy looked at them in the most reproachful manner, but he
did not move an inch. For more than half an hour the poor soldiers tried
to have him carry his burden away.
"We must be all cleared up before dress parade," said one.
"We must get him out of here somehow," said the other.
"Just think how the boys would laugh if they saw Daddy standing here
winking while the colonel was issuing his orders at dress parade."
"It will never do," said the driver. "Come, Daddy, you must move on or
you will disgrace the command."
Daddy looked knowing, but still stood firm. Other soldiers came and
they tried, but Daddy would not yield even after hard whipping. Then
the colonel came out and told them what to do, but Daddy winked at the
colonel as if to say, "I like this place very much and I will not go
even for you."
When all efforts had failed the colonel's wife said,
"Let me try; we cure horses of ill-temper by feeding them sugar."
"Nothing will cure Daddy," said her husband, "but you may try."
The lady brought out some sugar and gave Daddy a taste. He shook his
ears and made a sort of grunt. Then she patted him and held it farther
away and at last he marched after her out of the gate and ran so fast he
upset part of the ashes. After that when Daddy grew sulky a little sugar
would win him over.
[Illustration: 0086]