Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-02-27
THE DUTCH BOOR AND HIS HORSE.

l know not which KIND man can make
his best friend, dog or a horse. He can
make both love and serve him with faith
and trust 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, I heard thing read of a
horse that made both my cheeks wet with hot
tears The man who owned the horse lived
st the Cape of Good Hope, and was called a
Dutch Boor, or a poor man Of Dutch blood,
who was born on the soil of that hot land, and
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 ofthe
man. A great storm came down on the sea.
The waves roared and rose as high as the
hill. 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 and
sea, great ship, with sails rent and helm
gone, came in sight. 1t rode on the high,
white waves, straight on reef of rocks too
far from the shore to reach it with a 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 saved?
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 full speed 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
whip or spur, she dashed and swan the sea to
the ships side with rope tied to her tail.
She wheeled and stamped her way to the white
surge with 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 throug the surge to the
ship, and brought back a 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 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 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
"If you wish it, I 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 weay but brave. Now and then the white
surge buried her head; then she arose 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 between ship
and shore. She could lift her feet no more
Her name lay like black sea-weed on the
waves whileshe tried to catch one more breath.
Then, with groan, she went down with all
the load she bore, and a wall went out from
the land for the loss of life that had saved
from death a 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 we'll have place and rank with the best
lives and deaths we read of in books for young
and old.