The National tribune., 1881-08-20
A BOYS RACE WITH GENERAL GRANT,

ABOYS RACE WITH GENERAL GRANT.
From Wide Awake for August.
THE Turkish battery ashore thundered royal
salute to General Grant as the Vdndatia which
bore him from port to port in the Mediterranean
steamed up to her anchorage in the harbor OF
Smyrna. Thirty great iron-clads followed in quick
succession; men-of- war crowded the harbor They
had been ordered into Turkish waters on account
of the war then raging between Turkey and Rus
sia. From ship and shore thousands of spectators
watched the TanddEias approach with eager in
1erest, and from the foremast of every vessel and
The fag-staffs of the city the American flag waved
the General glad and hearty welcome.
No one in all the city was more pleased at his
arrival than Fred Martin, the son of an American
merchant resident in Smyrna. He stood with
fhe crowd upon the cheering enthusiastically.
Fred had sailed with his mother from New York
when he was but three years old, and his men,
ories of his native land were consequently vague
and fanciful. His playmates were the little Greek
and Armenian boys of his neighborhood, and the
few English children belonging to the British
consulate. He had told his comrades, in glowing
words, the history Of General Grant. Fred was
very precOcious and had learned several Ian
guages. In his play with the Greek boys he had
learned to speak Greek and in the same pleasant
way the Armenian boys had taught him their
language Besides, in the streets and bazaars he
had picked up Turkish and Arabic enough to
converse quite easily with the merchants speak
ing those languages. So great was Fred's profcen-
cy that at home he went by the name of the
Title polyglOt."
TIE boys shouted and cheered till they found
tfm General Grant would not come ashore that
81 2, and gradually they departed for their homes
We will leave General Grant to receive the official
rDurtesies of the authorities of the city and the
sfdmirals and captains of the feet, and proceed
with Master Fred.
Fred was the owner of beautiful little Arab
ian horse, which made him the envy of every boy
Ofhis acquaintance. This horse was the Christmas
gift of his father. Christmas eve he had been Sc
Cretly led to Mr.. Martins stable that in the morn
ing Fred might receive happy surprise. Early
Christmas morning Fred was sent to the stable on
some trihing errand and what was his aStonish-
ment to see a new horse quietly munching his
breakfast. His delight knew no bounds when he
found blue ribbon tied around the pony's neck
flor Fred at once called him pony, to which
was attached card, which was written:
Fred Martin From his affectionate father,
Christmas 1877"
The pony had been purchased from an Arab
This Arab with his little family had wandered far
from his own country, and at length had settled
in the envirOns of Smyrna. Through sickness
and poverty he was compelled to part with his
beautiful horse, his children crying bitterly and
fondly caressing him, as he was led away from
4he tent.
Mr.. Martins conscience almost smote him as he
witnessed this poor family's grief; but the Arab
mOtioned TO him TO hasten away, signifying that
the children would soon forget their sorrow.
The pony, as he was called was of the purest
Arabian blood. He was so gentle that Freds lit
lie sisters ran into his stall and played without
hesitation around his feet. Yet he had all the
mettle and fire of his royal race. In color he was
milk-white, and his neck arched like the curve
3 IN ivory bow. His head was small and ele-
} 70 so perfect, indeed, that an artist had taken
/ as a model for handsome ideal Arabian in
i lie picture he was painting. The pony's ears
y ire satin-like, and responded to the slightest
impression with quick, tremulous movement
that betOkened the keenest intelligence His ewes
lcdlilcu Will dIleClloH dllu Ladies uc-
lighted to run their fingers through his soft silken
hair; and they loved to pet him as he held his
nose to them to be stroked, as they would beau
fiful child
Fred had read the lives Of Alexander the Great
and Sir Walter Scott He had been charmed by
the illusions to their fondness for riding and hunt
ing In their bOyhoOd days, and he emulated them
IN many gallOp and chase among the hills sur
rounding the city. Many hare and partridge
had he run down and shot, and brought home
IN triumph hanging to the pommel of his saddle
Many time he had startled the shepherds and
frightened their sheep by dashing upon them
around some sharp curve, for which misdemeanor
he had to put spurs to the pony to escape the
shepherds wrath Besides, he had ridden to many
places which travellers 90 thousands of miles to
see. He could point out the different layers in
the walls of the old castle overlooking the city.
(which was first built by Alexander the Great,