Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; And off they spring

Image Not Available for Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; And off they spring
Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; And off they spring
Image Not Available for Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; And off they spring

Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; And off they spring

Date1905
Illustration CitationThe One Hoss Shay with its Companion Poems, How the Old Horse Won the Bet & The Broomstick Train, by Oliver Wendell Holmes (Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1892)
MediumInk and watercolor on paper
Dimensionssheet: 7 3/16 × 6 3/16 in. (18.3 × 15.7 cm)
Credit LineGift of Willard S. Morse, 1923
Object number1923-197
On View
Not on view
Label TextOliver Wendell Holmes was well known not just as a professor anatomy at Harvard but also as an author of light verse. The One Hoss Shay tells of a one hundred year old horse-drawn carriage that finally, and suddenly, breaks down. In How the Old Horse Won the Bet, a "poor forlorn old beast" amazes everyone with his speed in winning a race. The Broomstick Train attributes the flashing sparks of new electric trains to witches riding alongside them.
Image Not Available for Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; Off went a shoe
Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; Off went a shoe
Howard Pyle
1905
Image Not Available for Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; A horse can trot, for all he's old
Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; A horse can trot, for all he's old
Howard Pyle
1905
Image Not Available for Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; I'll bet you two to one
Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; I'll bet you two to one
Howard Pyle
1905
Image Not Available for Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; The Sexton -- led forth the horse
Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; The Sexton -- led forth the horse
Howard Pyle
1905
Image Not Available for Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; They led him, limping, to the track
Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; They led him, limping, to the track
Howard Pyle
1905
Image Not Available for Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; Back in the one hoss shay he went
Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; Back in the one hoss shay he went
Howard Pyle
c. 1891
Image Not Available for Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; A Sight to See
Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; A Sight to See
Howard Pyle
1905
Image Not Available for Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; The famous trotting ground
Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; The famous trotting ground
Howard Pyle
1905
Image Not Available for Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; Many a noted steed
Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; Many a noted steed
Howard Pyle
1905
Image Not Available for Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; The Sunday Swell
Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; The Sunday Swell
Howard Pyle
1905
Image Not Available for Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; And now the stand he rushes by
Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; And now the stand he rushes by
Howard Pyle
1905
Image Not Available for Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; They follow at his heels
Illustration for How the Old Horse Won the Bet; They follow at his heels
Howard Pyle
1905
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