The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-04-01

ing her bit, her heated blood bringing out
the magnificent lace-wOrk of veins over
her entire body, now and then pausing,
and with snort gathering herself back
upon her launches as for a mighty leap,
while she shook the frOth from her bits,
she moved with high prancing step down
the magnificent street, the admired of all
behOlders. Cheer after cheer was given,
huZza after huZZa rang out over her head
from roofs and balcony, bouquet after bou-
Quet was launched by fair and enthusias.
tic admirers before her; and yet, amid the
crash and swell of music, the cheering and
tumult, so gentle and manageable was she,
that, though could feel her frame creep
and tremble under me as she moved
through that whirlwind of excitement, no
check or curb was needed, and the bride
lines the same she wore when she came
to me at Malvern Hill-lay untitled on the
pommel of the saddle. Never before had
| seen her so grandly herself Never be-
fore had the fire and energy, the grace and
gentleness, of her blood so revealed them
selves. This was the day and the event
she needed. And all the royalty Of her
ancestral breed,-a race Of equine kings,
flowing as without taint or cross from
him that was the pride and wealth of the
itself in her. need not say that shared
her mood. sympathized in her every step
entered into all her royal humors l pat
ted her neck and spoke loving and cheer
full words to her. called her my beauty,
my pride, my pet. And did she not
understand me? Every word? Else
why that listening ear turned back to
catch my softest whisper; why the re-
sponsive quiver through the frame, and
the low, happy neigh? 'Wel,' 1 ex-
claimed, as l leaped from her back at
the close of the review,-alas! that
words spoken in lightest mood should
portend so much well, Gulnare
if you should die, your life has had its
triumph. The nation itself, through its
admiring capital, has paid tribute to
! your beauty, and death can never rob you
of your fame And l patted her moist
neck and foam hecked shoulders, while
the grooms were busy with head and
loins.
THAT night our brigade made its biv-
ouac just over Long Bridge, on the identi
cal spot where four years before had
camped my company of three months
volunteers With what experiences of
march and battle were those four years
| filled For three of these years Gulnare
had been my constant companion. With
me she had shared my tent, and not rarely
my ratiOns, for in appetite she was truly
human, and my steward always counted
her as one of our mess Twice had she
! been wounded-once at Fredericks burg
through the thigh; and once at Cold
! Harbor, where piece of shell tore away
part of her scalp. SO completely did it
stun her, that for some moments Thought
her dead, but to my great Joy she shortly
recovered her senses. / had the wound
carefully dressed by our brigade surgeon,
from whose care she came in a month
with the edges of the wound so nicely
united that the eve could with difficulty
detect the scar This night as usual, she
lay at my side, her head almost touching
mine. Never before, unless when on q
raid and in face of the enemy, had | seen
her so uneasy. Her movements during
the night compelled wakefulness on my
part. The sky was cloudless, and in the
dim light l lay and watched her. Now
she would stretch herself at full length,
and rub her head on the ground Then
launches, like dog, lift one fore leg and
paw her neck and ears. Anon she would
rise to her feet and shake herself walk off
IL
my side. / did not know what to make
of it, unless the excitement of the day
had been too much for her sensitive
nerves. spoke to her kindly and petted
her. In response she would rub her nose
against me, and lick my hand with her
tongue-a peculiar habit of hers-like a
dog. AS | was passing my hand over her
head, discovered that it was hot, and the
thought of the old wound flashed into my
mind, with mOmentary fear that some
thing might be wrong about her brain, but
after thinking it over dismissed it az in
credible. Still was alarmed. l knew
that something was amiss, and | rejoiced
at the thOughtthat l should soon be at
home where she could have quiet, and, if
need be, the best of nursing. At length
the morning dawned, and the mare and /
took our last meal together on Southern
soil-the last we ever took together. The
brigade was formed in line for the last
time, and as 1 rode down the front to re-
view the boys, she moved with all her old
battle grace and power. Only now and
then, by shake of the head, was l re-
minded Of her actions during the night
l said few words of farewell to the men
whom had led SO often to battle, with
whom l had shared perils not a few, and
by whom, as had reason to think, | was
loved, and then gave, with voice slightly
unsteady, the last order that they would
ever receive from me: Brigade, Atten-
ton, Ready to break ranks, Break Ranks.
The order was Obeyed. But ere they
scattered, moved by common impulse,
they gave first three cheers for me, and
then, with the same heartiness and even
more power, three cheers for Gulnare
And she, standing there, looking with her
bright, cheerful countenance full at the
men, paving with her fore feet, alternate
ly, the ground, seemed to understand the
compliment for no sooner had the cheer
ing died away than she arched her neck
to its proudest curve, lifted her thin, deli
cate head into the air, and gave short,
joyful neigh.
my arrangements for transporting her
had been made by a friend the day before.
A large, roomy car had teen secured, its
floor strewn with bright. clean straw, a
bucket and bag of oats provided, and
everything done for her comfort. The car
was to be attached to the through express,
in consideration Of fifty dollars extra,
which gladly paid, because OF the great
er rapidity with which it enabled me TO
make my jodrney. AS the brigade broke
up into groups, glanced at my watch and
saw that had barely time to reach the
cars before they started. Ishook the reins
upon her neck, and with plunge, startled
What stride she hadl What an elastic
spring! She touched and left the earth as
if her limbs were of spiral wire. When |
reached the car my friend was standing in
front of it, the gang plank was ready,
leaned from tho caddla and rupoino IN