The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-02-20
The Dutch Beor and His Horse.

The Dutch Boor and His Horse.
I know not which a kind man can make his
best friend, a dog or horse. He can make
which should be his Joy and pride, as we'll as
his good, to gain.
When was small boy and went to school,
too young to read, heard a thing read of a
horse that made both my cheeks wet with hot
tears. The man who owned the horse lived at
the Cape of Good Hope, and was called
Dutch Boor, or poor man Of Dutch blood,
who was born on the soil of that hot land, aud
titled it with the plow and hoe. he was a
kind man at heart though rough in look and
speech. He loved his mare and she loved him,
and was with him by day and near him by
night. She was proud to have 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 heart and the soul of the man.
A great storm came down on the sea. The
waves roared and rose o. nigh as the hills
Their white tops foamed with rage at the winds,
that smote them with all their, might. The
clouds tapped them with black wings. Night
drew near, and it was scene to make one
quake with fear. Right in the midst of all this
rage and roar of wind andsea, a great ship, with
sails rent and helm gone, came in sight. 1t
rode on the high, white waves, straight on r
reef of rocks too far from the shore to reach it
with rope. The ship was full of young and
old, whose cries for help could be heard, loud
as the voice of the storm. Their boats were
gone like the shells of eggs. There was no
wood nor time to build raft. The waves
leaped on the ship like great white wolves bent
on their prey. How could one soul of them all
be saved7
The men on the shore could but look on the
sad sight. They could give no help. They
had no boat nor raft; and their hearts were
sick within them. Then the Dutch Boor was
seen to draw near in foil speed on his horse.
Down he came to the beach, nor did he stop
there one breath of time. He spoke q word to
her which she knew, and with no touch of whip
or spur, she dashed and swan the sea to the
ships side with a rope tied to her tail. She
wheeled and stamped her way to the white
surge with a row of men to the shore. There
she staid but for breath. At the soft word
and touch she knew so well, she turned and
once more plowed through the surge to the
ship, and brought back load 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
were still few more left on it, and there 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
low, soft word to his horse. He put his head
to her neck, and seemed to ask her if she could
do it. She turned her head to him with look
that meant, eff you wish it, will try" He
did wish it, and she tried, TO the last pulse of
her heart. She walked straight 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
prayers came from it to keep up her strength.
The tug was for life she loved more than her
own. She broke her veins for it half way be-
tween the ship and shore. She could lift her
feet no more. Her maue lay like black sea-
weed on the waves while she tried to catch one
more breath. Then, with groan, she went
down with all the load she bore, and a vail
went out from the land for the lose of life
that had saved from death 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 in death and both
might well have place aud rank with the best
lives and deaths we read of in books for young
and old