Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-07-29
Turned Out 90 Die.

Saturday afternoon there hohblcd up
Grand River street, following his mas
ter an old gray horse SO lame that he
could hardly step. and his bones mark
ed plainly through the faded skin He
was being led out to die The man
jcrked and pulled to make him hobblc
the faster, and stopped several times 10
incite him to 4 quicker gait 10y caths
and kicks. But the poor beast could
do no better, even though he was 10
have liberty from work and toll At
Third street the halter was slipped from
his head. he was given last kick, and
hc hobblcd of, going away 10 die And
if the poor old horse couldhay spoken!
He might have told of years of toll. OF
days when the mangcr was empty, of
louder oaths and harder kicks. He
was almost thirty years old, turned ont
mt last because he could not work
Perhaps he once pranced along before
the carriage of wealth, champing his bit
and archng his neck tossing his head
in contempt at the over worked beasts
llldN I'INNt'l illll wi lIf WV. viz Wy
there came change for him, because
he had even then grown old, and his
step was not 50 light, and his pace was
slower, and he was made back horse.
He was driven early and late; hc was
pushed when ready to drop from travel
he was whipped when he knew not for
what The drivers stormcd at him,
struck him hard blows
He used 10 stand in his stall and won
der why men abused him so when hc
tried to be faithful He never com
plancd of his hay and ots and, if they
took him out again for work before he
had finished his meal. he gave no out
ward sign that told of the still hungry
feeling within him. over the cobhlc
stones, up and down the streets, out IN
to the hot sun, the cold rains, the snow
and the driving blasts, aud poor Tom
was at last so sore and lame that there
came morning when be- was sick, and
when he told them by his groans that hc
could not work, and that his blood was
like fire and his whole body aching, they
called him bard names, and said that
another and better horse should have
his place And when he gets little
better, they mUdc him hobblc away, and
sold him 10 cartman. And for years
the poor beast drew dray, and was
pounded and overloaded, and there
came another day when be could not
pull even the cart, and then he was LETT
10 take care Of himself And he waJ
led away on Saturday ay-turned ont on
the commons 10 stand and shivcr in the
blast TO see plenty around him and
vet be hungry to think Qor a horse
can think Of mans ingralitudc He
limpcd off towards the lcailess trees, the
barren branches cold and dcsolatc, ike
his own dreary winter of old age And
the darkness found him there, the wind
whi-tlcd through the branches, tossing
up hi yellow name and faded hair He
was waiting. not for another morning
not for his mastcr--uOt for food he
was waiting there for death. He knew,
perhaps. that death was not very far
away, and that it would not be long ere
he would fell, and then the passcrby
would note the dead body Of a horse
nothing more. No board will be put
up with Tom engraved thereon no
one will stop TO lament no one speak
Of the useful life no one carc--hc was
nothing but a horsc-Dthoh Free
PT'Js.