OYSTERS IE THE SHELL FOR HORSES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 762, 24 November 1876, Page 3

OYSTERS IE THE SHELL FOR HORSES.

Many years ago, before the advent of railroads in Eastern Maine, it was the custom of country clergymen, in addition to their pastoral duties, to take occasional missionary tours, preaching-the gospel in destitute places. Among these occasional itinerants was a Baptist ministerof decidedly original character, well acquainted with human nature, and fruitful in expedients to accomplish his purpose. On one of his tours in the dead of winter he drove up to a country tavern, where refreshment for man and beast was kept, about the middle of the day. The weather was intensely cold, and a blazing fire was burning in the fire-place, but was completely surrounded by a company of town loafers, who showed ho disposition to make room for the half-frozen man who had just entered. The minister stood a moment, and looked around so as to take in the situation ; then turning to the tavern-keeper, said, “Landlord, I want you to put my horse in the stable, and give him half a peck of oysters in the shell.” “Oysters in the shell?” asked the astonished landlord. “ Yes, oysters in the shell.” “ But he won’t eat them,” said the landlord, still hesitating. “ You give them to him and see,” replied the parson. The landlord started to obey the strange order, and all the loafers in the room followedhim to seethe result of the experiment of feeding a horse on oysters in the shell. Meanwhile the minister quietly seated himself by the fire, and began warming himself. After about five minutes the tavern-keeper returned, saying, “Yhjur horse won’t eat the oysters, and I know he wouldn’t.” “Well, I will, then,” quietly returned the clergyman ; “bring them in here and roast them, and give my horse some oats.” Just at this time the point of the joke was apparent; but the minister kept his seat by the fire till ho whs warm, when ho made a hearty meal Of the oysters, and departed.