The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-07-31

Turned Out 10 Die.

Saturday afternoon there hObblcd VI
lmnd River street, following his master
nm old gray horse, so lame that he could
hardly step, and his bones marked plainly
through the faded skin. He was being led
cut to die, The man jerked and pulled to
make him hobble the faster, and stopped
several times to inCite him to quicker
gait by oaths and kicks. But the poor
beast could do no better, even though he
was TO have liberty from work and toll.
At Third street the halter was slipped
from his head, he was given Il last kick,
and he hobbled oil, going away to die
And if the poor old horse could have spo.,
ken, he might have told Of years ottoil, OF
days when the mangGr was empty, OF
louder oaths and harder kicks, He was
almost thirty years old, turned out at last
because he could not work, Perhaps he
once pranced along before the carriage OF
wealth, champing his bit and arChing his
neck, tossing his head in contempt at the
oycrworked beasts that passed HIM on
the way. One day there came a change
for him, because he had even then grown
old, and his step was not so light and his
pace was slower, and he was made hack
horse. He was driven early and late he
was pushed when ready to drop from
travel he was whipped when he knew
not Tor what The drivers stormGd at him
and struck him hard blows.
lie used TO stand in his stall and won
der why men. abused him so when he
tried tobe faithful. lie never complained
ol his hay and oats; and, if they took
him Quito work again before he had fin.
shed his meal, he gave no outward sign
that told Of the still hungry feeling with.
in him Over the Cobble stones, up and
down the streets, out into the hot sun, the
cold rains, the snow and the driving
blasts, and poor Tom was at last so sore
and lame that there came morning
when he was sick, and when he told them
BY his groans that he could not work, and
that his blood was like fire and his whole
body aching, they called him hard names,
and said that another and better horse
should have his place. And when he
gets a little better, they made him hObble
away, and sold him to Cartman. And |
Tor years the poor beast drew dray, and |
was pounded and overloaded, and there
came another day when he could not pull |
even the cart, and then he was left
10 take care OF himself And he was led
away on SaturdRy-tuned out on the
commons to stand and shlver in the blast;
10 see plenty around him and yet be hun.
gry; TO think flor n horse can think Of
mans ingratltude. He limped off towards
the leaiess trees, the barren branches cold
and desolate, like his own dreary winter
u old age. And the darkness found him
there, the wind whistled through the
tossing up Ills yellow main and
faded hair He was waiting, not TOR IN.
other mOrning-nOt for his mastcr-nOt |
Tor food; he was waiting there for death.
lie knew, perhaps, that death was no
very far away, and that II would not be
long ere he would fall, and then the passcr-
by would note the dead body of Il 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 Care-he was nothing but u
horsc.-IbtrOH Free Press.