The Monitor., 1886-12-03
PEARL AND LEON:
Or. the History of a Horse.

w hen mOllor was Killed by 4 Train oil cars.
!, foolish and frisky, was bounding along,
Amused by the din of the engines song:
While she, with whinneying, called in vain,
And, close by my side, was oertaken and slain.
The engine was halted, but just too late
TO alter The seal of my after fate.
The passengers out OF the windows gaZed,
], trembling, looked at the scene, amazed
Anu wondered that mother was lying there
Without one sign of her tender care
A clang, and Shrek, and the train was gone,
And stood there, in the woods, alone.
In vain struggled my footing TO keep,
And falling, soon lay there fast asleep.
"Why, Uncle, look here. BY the side of the
''A little white colt, with a bloody back!
"And, mercy!-Of all things.-Just see there.
"Stark dead by the rails is Tim Johnson's 5
A little boys voice thus exclaimed in his grief,
That soon i'll sheer tenderness found relief.
He patted my nose, rs he tears fell faster,
And loved him at once rs my little master.
They lifted me up on the cart load of wood,
And hurried to Johnson's as quick as they
oval, wal!'' said Tim, '.You may have him,
Johnnie;
''I1 you save him he'll make you nice little
bonny.
ats more'n he's with TO fuss with him now
''That the old mares gone. Its toe bad,
swow!''
Then around my neck went my masters arms
And that was the end OF one days alarms.
They carried me now to a house that stood
In Il bright little meadow, close by the wood.
They lifted me down, too weak to stand,
Still soothed by the touch of thut gentle hand
never could tell of the strange persuasion
They used that night to cure starvation.
They seemed to be trying my life to throttle,
AS they filled my throat with the Old black
bottle.
That tender voice: "Do drink, my dear bon
NY"
So, lured by love, against natures laws,
l labored To swallow whatever.it was.
When the next day came, with lis rosy morn
ing,
bn hpI M and dear glrl
Gave my nose a kiss, and christened me
pearl"
was now ut my home: so / ate and grew,
As all good bonnies and children do.
played with the girls, with the dog and COW,
And followed The team as they drew The
But dearer than all was the biessedness
OF Johnny, my masters, gentle catess,
And / quickly learned, without fear or fai'er
To put my nose in his little halter.
He chatted, ana patted, and told me about II:
He knew l would do just rs well without ii;
But showing and akng ,das il piaif f TO e see
Then followed the harness, OF ms own
make,
That always was welcome for his dear sake.
And when, with winter, there followed sled,
How joyfully over the ice we sped
just Johnny and |, and ola Guard, the dog,
with our bundle of tagGotS, or some small log,
Thus year after year, through iife's strange
force,
/ grew, and became my masters own horse.
How well | remember, i'll siXty-three,
The day that his hands first stddied me
How pleased were the girls land q uarde and ,
To see our hero enthroned on high;
There, nothing doubling, and nothing fear
ing
From all my froiicsome sham or rearing;
Then soon how joyfully over the plain
We raced with the breezes, and home again.
But one clear cold night abouttwelve O'Clock,
was reused by the click of my stable lock
And rose to encounter with panied surprise,
NV beloved young master with fearful eyes,
He girted the saddle down tight to my back,
He ioosened the rope from the sloping rack,
rid
He patted me gently, and sadly said,
my Pearl, it's u ride for a life to-night!'
With touch of my mnzzle said All iigh,; a:r
He mounted, and out through the open door
We flew as we never had flown before.
Not touch of spur or whip was needed,
Not pat of the loving hand unheeueu,-
For every muscle and every nerve.
Was doing its mighticst, curve by curve.
Till the twenty miles were all measured DER,
And we stood by the steps at the doctofs 5 door
A laundering knock, and quick wv hQ
there?'f
Showed never moment or word to spare,
"It's John; and my mother is deathly sick!
.Oh Doctor, for heavens sake, get there
"Oh. YES, my boy," was the kind reply,
"Go down to the stable and rub Pearl dry
'Throw Il lap robe over him, then come ill.,
We soon We're where we had often been
By the side of Leon the doctors pet
He was 1.-THE and dry, weary and wet.
fiy.'
That was always sweet to the Doctors ear,
soon brought his master. ''Then Pearl has
told you.-
"WelI, well, my beauty, shall not hold you.
"Now John, you two have done your best,
"We two and God Will attend to me ies,, ,o,,
"1hen sleep two hours. Never fear; sheh
wake your
The last five words were the voice of fate,
Thrown back as they flashed thfohSh the
barn-yard gate.
For i'll after years, us all manhood needs,
She wakened his soul to the noblest deeds
sThero, swallow this hot; and before you stop
'You must find ut the bottom Inc very last
"And then, on the bed there, just two hours
You must sleep, to restore your weariea
..so now, brother Johnnie, here's one "Gcod-
"Remember our Father does all things right"
"Our Father our Father" sobbed the drowsy
AS he thought of his own. and of half lifes joy
That died Then he dreamed of the yet to be !;
OF Mary, and mother, and Guardie, ana me;
"Come, Johnnie" chimes! i'll as Il part OF MS
Times up with the rays of the morning beam;
$50 up, and awayl And have courage, Dfother,
"For you'll lind her bctter-ouf oafiihS iiioth-
Thanks. Thanks - said the tears his blue
eyes adorning. ,.,,
morning.;
And knew. us into my stall he stepped,
That the angels had brought good news while
For felt in every touch of his hand
That he was the happiest lad in the land
So, refreshed and cheered, ana bounding away
We drank III the air of the opening day.
How charming the scene OF that winter
gloaming;
How sweet were the neius tnat our thoughts
went roaming.
The world needed not the just-heralded sun,
For Johnnie and | seemed somehow just one
And the Joy of my soul-whatever that is
seemed fully perfected IN just being his
W lille our one full heart, rs we galloped along.
Went hymning its grateful morning song,
And every deli, and void, and shanty,
Beat echoing time 10 my qaddInpeddhHe.
Tins, love beguiling our way the whites,
WeuuickIy remeasured that score of miles;
And with all our hopes We're in perfect keep
ing
The glad words at the gate: ''Yes, mother is
sleeping"
These came from our darling, sweet sister Bell,
w ho was waiting the welconest news 10 Toll
ON the happiest horse that boy could he on
Rode Johnnie, the brave, to ihe side oi my
Where, muzzle TO muzzle, the black and
white
Exchanged, with many an equine rite,
our news, liz speech TOO terse and grand
For reasoning spirits TO understand
Good Leon said That ut 1--WE o'clock
lie was walked by the well known triple
A playful habit the doctor had
WI hen feeling most thankful, and KIND, ano
glad;
Who told him the widow. was safely sleeping
While he and the girls with JOY were weeping
One fruit of these anxious midnight rides.
dor causes are wings tor what fate provides
Was the widows speedy, complete recovery
| And another, the doctors stlstnge discovery
That al his mundane goodiy Affairs,
With his Medic y griculturfti cares,
| Were sadly in need OF 4 partners hand.
| As he gave MIR Williams 10 understand.
On thinking II over, rs one should 40