Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-04-03
The Dutch Boor and His Horse.

When was small boy. said Flihu
\ Bnrrtt, and went 10 school, too vouuo
Y t" read, heard thing read OF a horse
I That made both NV cheeks wet with hot
I tears. The man who owned the horse
| HVcd ut the Cape OF Good Hope, and
was called il Dutch boor or poor man Of
/ putch blood, who was born on the soil
81 That hot land, and titled il with the
[ plough ana hoe. He was a kind man AZ
| heart, though rough in look and speech.
ne loved ms horse and she loved him.
and was with him by day and near him
by night. She was proud to have him
Oh her back, and would dash through
-wamp-, ponds, and fire, ithc wished il.
But one day came that was to prove the
talth and love OF her stout heart, and the
soul OF the man. a great storm came
down on the sea. The waves roarcd
and rose a with rage at the winds, that
snotc them with all their might. The
clouds Mapped them with black wings.
Night drew near, and it was a scene 10
make one quake with fear. Rinht in
thc midst OF all this rage and roar Of
WIND and sea, great ship, with sail,
rent and helm gone, came in sight. Ii
rode on the high, white waves, straight
on rect OF rocks too far from shore TO
/ reach with rope. The ship wa, full of
Young and old, whose cries for help
could be heard, loud rs was the voice Of
the storm. Their boots were gone like
the she'll of eggs. There was no wood
nor time to build raft. The waves
Ieapcd on the ship like great white
wolves bent upon their prey. How
could one sonl OF them all be saved?
The men on shore could but look on
the sad sight. They could give no help.
They had no boat nor RATS and their
hearts were sick in them. Then the
Dutch Door was seen to draw near at full
speed on his horse. Down he came to
the beech, nor did stop there one breath
OF time. He spoke word to her which
she knew, and with no touch of whip or
spur she dashed in and swan the sea 10
the ships side with a rope tied TO her
tail. She wheeled and stamped her
way on the white surge with a row OF
men to the shore. There she stoned
but Tor breath. At the soft word and
touch she knew so well she turned and
once more ploughed through the SURGE
to the ship and brought back a load Of
Young and old. Once more she stood
on the beach, amidst tears of low that
Tell from all eyes. She stood there weak
a. wet with sweat as with the sea. The
night Tell down fast on the ship. There
were still few more left on il. and
their cries for help came on the wind TO
the shore. The cries from the shin
pierced it through and through. He
could not bear to hear them. lie spoke
low, soft word to his horse. He put
his hand to her neck, and seemed TO
ask her if she could do it. She turned
her head to him with look that meant.
IL YOU wish il, | will try He did
wish It, and she tried, to the last pulse
OF her heart. She walked straight ont
in the sea.
All on shore held their breath al the
sight: She was weak but brave. Now
and then the white surge buried her
head then she rose and shook the brine
ont OF her eyes. Foot bv foot she near.
ed the ship. Now the last man had
caught the rope. Once more she turn
ell her head to the beach. Shouts and
prayers came from it to keep up her
strength. The tug was for a life she
loved more than her own. She broke
her veins for it half way tween shin and
shore. She could lift her feet no more.
Her name Law like black seaweed on the
waves while she tried to catch one
more breath. Then, with groan, she |
went down with all the load She bore.
ana wall went out from the land for
the loss of a life that had saved from
death near ships crew of men.
Thus dared and died in the sea the |
brave Dutch boor and his horse. They
were. as friends, one in life, one i'm
death; and both might well have place
and rank with the best lives and deaths
we read OF in books for young and old. |