The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-10-17
THE THOROUGHBRED.

Now, see my graceful limbs-see how /
prance 4
And note my arching neck. my beaming
Observe me well-see how hold my head.
All what am to boast?-a thorough bred!
Well, now PHI run; but DER the ground 1 fly /.
In vain We half breeds think to pass me by !;
Jealous! Oh, not of rivals such as you
/ know too well what you and can do"
How glorious tits to win our need of praise /!
Horses, like men are proud to wear the bays.
Now, Master, loose the reins and trust in me,
And what a horse can do, this throng shall
see!
All, that was splendidl-hcw we cleared the
We've distanced all, not one with us is found,
While my swift feet send out merry clang,
Which from the earth in even beats they
rang!
My Master, that was well! We came to time
AS true and perfect as poets rhyme;
was primei is.3y -f O.
And fresh and hopeful as wedding chime.
We've won new laurels for our brow to- day /;
Now, as / amble, list what shall say.
For midst the joys that gid my present way,
To bygone times my thoughts will sometimes
stray.
When first upon this world op'ed my eyes,
1t was on grassy rneads meath smiling skies
And as DER hill and vale freely ran,
Cropped my sweet food unawed by beast or
many - p Sk-5E zsss 2,
My master spoke to me In kindly tone,
Which, from my heart, found answer in my
own! E1t Ellrf
And, as in beauteous strength daily grew,
No fear of curb, or whip, or spur, knew! !
first was harnessed by his gentle hand,
And as admiring friends around me drew
He then was proud of me as now are you.
sI4N<aG 9 #5T ti8AE I3&A
But all those joyous days of youth fled fast,
little priced my pleasures till they passed
Till owned by one, who, merciless at least,
NO favor showed to wife, or man, or beast!
Iha- ed him with his ferocious eve, 'sNS -
An trembled as his step to me drew nigh,
hut, gen'rous, crushed down my burning
Or else beneath my hoofs he'd found his fate.
So, with his bloody spur he pierced my side,
And with his whips he striped my polished
Great heavy burdens laid on me DO draw;
Ne difference in me or draught- horsesawI :.
Then the dark, selfish man set me to pillow,
And, delicate in limb, I waded through
The newly broken, rough and stony earth;
TOO selfish he to recognize my worth!
One day the tyrant said they all should ride
That is, the man, his wife and boy--his pride
The pallid wife, with eyes half Kind, half
wild, I'm
The sullen boy who was-his fathers child.
All, now's my time, Isaid-now for 'aatfnrs
And as the wind onward sped-on, on!K 4
On, ont until ceased from want of breath
But had made the tyrant look on death!
I gained my freedom from that precious
hour;
He never knew my skill, but feared my
power. 1gf -tlstsss~s" Il 81. =
He could not trust his coward lifewith me.
And, from his fears, L knew that was free!
E-' --.f
And now, my Master, l belong to you,
Whose wise, kind eye has looked me through
and through.
How patiently you've heard your thorough
bred, :.
And his dumb speech have well interpreted.
All, now what shall we door pace or trot?
Wen let the laggards see they're not forgot
They're coming on! Wen leave them farbe'
Away we're rushing now, like unclaimed
wind;
-NrA n n SHo,rs