No one could suggest a punishment to fit the crime, although there were stocks and branding for lesser misdemeanors, such as drunkenness and lying.
Unfortunately, the stage had to go on before the driver found out what decision the Selectmen arrived at as to proper and appropriate penalty.
Soon after this Joseph Rogers chanced to be in Chelsea when the stage coach drew up. Hearing his familiar voice, Morgan—wretchedly miserable and homesick—gave a friendly and anxious whinney. Rogers would never have recognized him otherwise, but as he looked into the horse’s kind, gentle face he knew it was his old friend. He started in surprise at the forlorn appearance of the once beautiful horse, now friendless and forgotten.
That evening Morgan was bought back by Joel Goss and Joseph Rogers, who took him again to Claremont, where he soon regained strength and flesh. His coat took on such a gloss that after a while they began to “spruce” him up for the Randolph Fair. And at twenty-eight years of age!
The fair proved to be a very fine one and there were bread-stuffs, pies and quilts of every description, linen and woolen woven by the women, and the men exhibited their fine horses, cows and pigs.
Morgan’s stable was as popular as ever and pretty soon the judges gave him a blue ribband, though there were many younger horses in his class who arched their necks and attracted attention.
The chief topic of conversation at the fair was the approaching visit of President James Monroe, who was coming to view the scene of the great naval battle at Burlington. Morgan heard the talk outside his stall.
“They tell me the Morgan goes up to Burlington for the President to ride in the big parade,” said a stable boy.
“Yes,” some one replied, “Joel Goss wants to sell the horse and thinks with the reputation of having been ridden by a President he’ll get a better price!”
“That sounds reasonable—if Morgan was younger.”