The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-04-03
THE DUTCH eOOR AND HIS HORSE.

When 1 was a small boy, said
Elihu Burritt, and went to school,
l heard a thing read about a horse
that made both my cheeks wet
with tears. The man that owned
the horse lived at the Cape of Good
Hope, and was called dutch boor,
or a moor man of dutch blood, who
was born on the soil of that hot land,
and titled il nth the pillow and hoe.
He was kind ma at heart, though
rough in loo and spec. ~ ne iovea
his mare an d she loved H.. "' sna
was with him by day and near Ii. y"
by night. She was proud of him on
her back, and would dash through
swamps. ponds, and fire too if he
wished it.
But one day came that was to
prove the faith and love of her stout
heart and the soul of the man. A
great storm came down on the sea.
The waves rolled and rose as high
as the hills. Their white tops foam
ed with ra ge at the winds, that
smote them with all their might.
The clouds tapped them with black
wings. Night drew near, and it was
a scene to make one quake with fear.
Right In th midst of all rage of
wind and sea, a great ship, with
sails rent and helm gone, came in
sight. 1t rode on the hi oh, white
waves straight on a reef of rocks too
tar from the shore to reach it with a
rope. The ship was full of young
and old whose cries for help could be
easily heard, loud as was the voice
of the storm. Their boats were gone
like the shells of eggs. There was
no wood nor time to build a raft.
The waves leaped upon the ship like
great white wolves upon their prey.
How could one soul of them be
saved?
The men on shore could but look
on the sad sight. They could give
on help. They had neither boats
nor RATS, and their hearts were sick
within them Then the dutch boor
was seen to draw near on his horse.
Down he came to the beach, nor did
he stop there one breath of time.
He spoke word to her which she
knew, and with no touch of spur or
whip she dashed in and swan the
sea to the ships side, with 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 stayed but for a breath.
At the soft word and touch she knew
so we'll she turned and once more
plunged her way though the surge to
the ship. and brought back row of
young and old. Once more she
stood on the beach, amidst tears of
joy that fell from all eyes. She stood
there weak, as wet with sweat as
with the sea. The night fell down
fast on the ship. There was still a
few more on the ship, and their cries
for help came on the wind
to the shore. The thoughts
that tugged at the brave mans heart
will not be known in this world
The cries from the ship pierced it
through and through. He could not
bear to hear them. He spoke a low
word to his horse. He laid his hand
on her neck, and seemed to ask her
if she could do 1t. She turned her
head to him with look that meant,
"Ifyou want me to, I will try" He
did want her to, and she tried. To
the last pulse of her heart. She
walked right out in the wild sea.
All on shore held their breath at
the sight. She was weak but brave.
Now and then the white surge buried
her head /; then she rose and shook
the brine out of her eyes. Foot by
foot she neared the ship. Now the
last man had caught the rope. Once
more she turned her head to the
beach. Shouts and cheers came
from it to help her strength. The
tug was for a life she loved more
than her own. She broke her veins
for it half way between ship and
shore. She could lift her feet no
more. Her name lay like black sea-
weed on the waves while she tried to
catch one more breath. Then, with.
q groan, she went down with all the
load she bore, and q wsif went cut
from the land for the loss of q life
that had saved from death near
ships crew of people.
Thus Jared and died in the sea the
brave 1lutch boor and his horse.
They, were, as friends, one in life.
one in death and might we'll have
been placed in rank with the best
lives and deaths we read Of in books
! for young and old. go