The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-02-10
The Death Of Charlie.
BY REV. T. McCLARY.


What friend is more faithful than
a good horse! He is ever willing.
true and ready to serve his master to
the full measure of his strength.
When such an animal dies man loses
companion true and tried. Yester.
day Dr.. Lyford decided that we must
part with Charlie. His disease was
incurable. He had suffered for some
time, and lost ambition, appetite,
fleetness; was swollen about the head
and body, had labOred breathing, and
must die. So the scavenger came,
led him out, shot him and drew him
away. Charlie was one of our family.
lie had been with lis for seven years
and was pet for the children. He
knew them, loved them, and enjoyed
their society. They could pat him,
drive him and take pleasure in study.
ing his actions. No wonder that all
of them cried when he was led out to
be killed; they wept as if they were
losing brother, and wept, not he.
fore them. but l had been alone in
stable by the suffering horse. l
patted his once beautiful neck and
stroked the ear. that had been so
pretty. How could ! help weeping
rs he seemed to appreciate my kind.
ness and plead for relief! We had
been together for manga year, in the
cold, storm and sunshine, working
for the good of human beings. II
had been able to help anyone he de-
served part of the credit. How much
he had added to the pleasure of my
family; many ride he had given us
on the broad avenues around the sill
YER lakes, and through the oak groves
of Minneapolis and vicinity. How
much he had contributed to our
health, for what is more refreshing
to weary laborers than to ride among
the enchanting scenes of nature or
through the pleasant streets of a
beautiful city! Thoughts are taken
from ordinary toll by the singular and
attractive architecture. lastly arran.
ged flowers, fountains tossing up
sparkling waters that fall in pleasant
manner into the basin, or veil the
"maid of the mist" attracting happy
birds and burdened minds. Charlie
was pretty, not large, but well built,
dark bay, smooth, .trong limbs, a
well-filled neck, large, soft eyes that
received and conveyed meaning, a
small, tapering ear covered with silk.
en- hair, cOuntenance beaming with
intelligence and kindness, yet a little
r0guish wi:hal. Which of the dumb
animals compares in beauty with the
horse! He has always seemed to me
next in order to man.
Farewell, old friend; if there is
Heaven for horses, you have gone
there, and who knows but there may
he! One thing seems clear, all the
material forms are but imperfect rep.
reservations of forms that are spirit.
ual.
Reader, if You are the owner of a
horse, treat him well, give him plenty
of pure air, warm sunlight, clear
water and nutritious food. Do not
water him at the public fountain, or
put him in public stalls. or hitch him
to the street posts, or beside strange
horses, for to such contact with dis.
ease many a valuable horse owes his
death. by the way. why do the au.
thoritics allow glandered horses to be
kept in the city? Drs. Sermon and
Lyford have told me that there are
many such in Minneapolis. They
order them outside the limits, but
they are soon brought back and are
scattering that incurable disease
among horses, endangering cattle and
men. When horse has the CHAMBERS
he should be shot, and the sooner the
better. The legislature Of Minneso-
ia should enact such a law a. will
compel the destruction of such horses
whenever found in the State. Here
II some good advice given by q horse: