Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-05-19
Old Major.
by LOUISA ". ALcorr.


re ISM doing airy harm, and he's old and
weak, and hasn't anyone TO be GOOD IN him
pnt rosy aud me" cried little Ned, bursting
mo hts mothers room, red and brrathles5
with pnxiety and haste.
mll about it. '' ''''
=, l cant sit down, and must be quick.
nor they may do it while I'm gone. left
rosy TO watch him, and she is poiny 10
f'ceearl with all her mi ht the minute She
S~e"S Them coming back cried Ned. hover
M restlessly about the doorway, as if cx-
PectinS the call that was TO summon him
TO the rescue.
Mercy ON us, what is il, child"
A dear old horse, mamma, who has
neen hobbling round tho road for week.
We seen him driven away from all the
me'ghDors, SO Posy and give him clover
ana pat nm and to- day we found him nj
our o"rs, looking over Mt u playing in In /.
Hcio. wanted him to come in, but Mr..
"hte came along and drove him of, and
sand he was to be killed because he had no
master and was n nuisance. Don't let him
do j.!' - ~
>. But, Neddy, | cannot take him in, AS
Il did the lame chicken and the cat with
out tail. He is too big, and eats too
much, and We have no barn Mr.. White
c,'h .hu his master, perhaps, or use him
Tor light work"
Mamma got no further, for Ned said
aga IL:
No, he can't. lie says tho poor old
ahlng Is OF no use but to boil up. Ana his
lnhsicr won't lie found, because he has
gone away and left Major to take care of
h'mself. Mr.. White knew the man. and
says he had Major over eighteen years,
and he was good horse, and now he's left
10 de allalone. Wouldn't | like to pound
ths. man."
1T was cruel; Neddy, and we must sec
chat we can do"
SO mamma put down her work and fol-
lowed her boy, who raced before her TO tell
rosy it would be "all right" now.
Mrs. West found her small daughter
ferched on stone wall, patting the head
of an old white horse, who looked more
like skeleton than living animal. Ned
gave q whoop as he came, and the poor
peast hastily hobbled across the road,
pressing himself into nook full of black
berry vines and thorny barberry bushes, as
II trying to get out of sight and escape tor
mentors.
That's the way he does when any one
comes, because the boys plague him, and
people drive him about till he don't know
what to do. Isn't it a pity to see him so,
mammal" said the tender hearted Ned, as
he pulled a big handful of clover from his
fathers field close by.
Indeed, it was sad, for the poor thing
had evidently been a fine horse once; one
could see that by his intelligent eye, the
way he pricked up his ears, and the sor-
rowful sort of dignity with which he looked
about him, as if asking little compassion
in memory q his long faithfulness.
See his poor legs all swelled up, and
the bones in his back, and the burrs tho
bad boys put in his name, and the dusty
grass he has 10 eat. Look! he knows me,
and isn't afraid, because I'm good to him"
said Ned, putting old Major, who CRATE
fully ate fresh clover from the friendly
little hand.
Yes, and he lets me stroke his nose,
mamma. It's as soft as velvet, and his
big eyes don't brighten me a bit, they ale
80 gentle. Oh, If we could only put him
IN our field and keep him till he dies, [
should be so happy!" said Posy, with such
wheedlesome arm about mamml's ne k
that it was very hard TO deny her anything.
"If You will let me have Major l won't
ask for any other birthday present." cried
Ned, with sudden burst Of generosity,
inspired, perhaps, by the conhding way
in which the poor beast RUBBED his gray
head against the boys shoulder.
"Why, Neddy, do you really mean that?
| WIS going to give YOU something Won
want very much. Shall take Won nj your
word, and give Won n worn ont old horse
instead! asked mamma, surprised, yet
pieaseu AT 'he oiler'
Seu loohea AT Her, 'heh at ola MAJOR
"nu Mavereu, lor ne guessed 'hat inc otheI
sht WIS II NIUE "Heetpario" ne had neSGeu
LOT 30 lohS' the GEAR trSen one, with the
ueIicious creaK ana rumble 10 II. lle had
y Oh I,n OF frin -
seen II at inc store, ana tfiea II, and
!oneed lof II, ana Planned 10 lruhdle every
1nln' III II, from rosy 10 road OF hay.
rs, ,e,, ~ mus g. 10 his anu MAJOR must be
iei f 70 nlS ln'5 5a,, ,,;u , D.
"s' Us ne ue'iueu ms Iowener' rosy
en1e "cry .hat 'olu MN ML. "hi'e was
. WINS Masor resseu luf'ncr mo inc
piiINiy heuGe' Win Pa,i'nl soft OF sign,
anu i" io ' 'E''' "eh' u Neu heart' lof II
'ee em5 10 s'y'i r.;,
ANYTHING for mo. I'm NOT worth + for +
can ONLY Lore Won in return"
Mr.. White was very nelr. bnt Major wos
safe. for. with n sudden rod in lis freckIad
checks Ned mt his arm ON The moor beoot,s
droopino neck. and said monfnIiv.
Al choose him, mamma. or5 now he's
mine. I'd like TO see anyone toncb bimi'
n was nrotv siobtEtha onnerono I;ttIe
lad eff, iendino Tho oid horee and Iov;n1
him for nnre n:Iv's sake in tIe sweet
childish wov we SO soon forget
PoSy clappcd her hands, mamma smiled
,-:-,. ,o, 49,. III. a..
"un iisu' iooA a. hel 10y, Wits ~,
Mnne lnrew over ms arm me matter Win