Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-03-30

winch were clear anu DIlSus, Will eAAAA.
lids; ears short and pointed, and set
close together; deep, full chest; large,
fat hams, e1quisitely tapering, with
slender limbs and daintily small hoofs
not at all draught horse, but made
for speed.
The gentleman from the store exam
ined him critically, point by point
with a running comment of admiration.
Suddenly, as he went round to the
other side of the creature, he came to
an abrupt pause, and exclaimed:
"Hey, what's this
RAILROAD accident" replied the
driver, laconically.
"That's why he is drawing coal to-
day."
The man nodded.
Burning shame he should have to
be used like this!" said the gentleman.
so, we're pretty good to him, an
swered the driver. ave never put him
to very heavy loads"
Il should think this was heavy
enough, in all conscience"
"'Tisn't a circumstance to some J"
said the man, with short laugh. Then,
after pause, added: "He got off easy
to what might have been. The horses
along side of him were actually boiled
alive by the steam from the engine.
Everything grew black before
Daisy's eyes, and she had to hold to
the railing to keep from falling. Head
and heart were both in tumult. Was
it not through a railroad accident that
her poor spine became so cruelty
twisted. her young life blighted, and
she in one short hour robbed of father,
mother. sister and brother? Making
her way into the house, she sank into
the nearest chair, her breath coming
fast and short.
By and by she heard the man back
ing out of the little yard. Something
seemed the matter; why didn't he go
on? What time he was having, and
how loud and cross his tones We're get
ting! That poor horse-she must see
that he was not abused. So up she
jumped and ran down stairs. There in
the narrow passageway that angled
out from the yard into the street, was
the long coal-wagon, one wheel of it
buried hub-deep in the soft, yielding
earth, while its mate on the other side
was fast wedged into fence against a
post of which it stuck, making dead
lock, for there was neither room to
drive forward, nor to turn, nor swerve;
and after faithfully backing till he
found he could do so no longer, the
poor horse stood still, quivering in
every limb. The driver, meantime,
had lost, first his patience and then his
temper, and was using one after an
other the harsh e1pedients ordinarily
to in order to make balky
horses go.
Daisy came up timidly, not afraid of
the horse, for she had been a skilled
in her happy past, but of
the angry driver, and ventured to ask:
"Can't help?"
No." replied the man, gruffiy, look
ing scornfully down at the very small
object before him. Then, seeing that
she still fingered, added roughly: II
wish you would get out of the way"
Then to the horse: "Let me get you
out of this yard, and if I don't give
you such warming as you never will
forget"
This was more than Daisy could
stand. She looked at the intelligent
eyes of the frightened beast; there was
neither sullenness nor obstinacy there,
but an expression of almost human
agony With quick resolve she sprang
10 his head, and said to the man:
"Don't you see that your wheel is
caught, and the horse can't back? Get
'ut and lift the tail-end of your wagon,
md I'll back him."
The man stared second in mute as
at the sudden transforma-
ion in the bearing of the tiny, elf-like
,reature, and then silently did as he
vas bid.
Back, old fellow, back!" clearly and
'heerily rang out the girlish voice, as
he man, exerting all his strength, lift
ID up the hind wheels of the ponderous
wagon, while she pressed firmly but
GENTLY against the bit, and back went
he horse without seconds hesitation,
Is soon as he found that he could.
A great throb of Joy filled the young
girls heart, and she said, quietly:
"That was better than beating him."
The man now looked shamefaced,
put was gentleman enough to say,
II thank you, miss; I thank you," as
lie drove away.
1t was very little thing to do, but
t made Daisy happy all the rest of the
lay, and at night she had to own that
t was by far the pleasantest day she
had had since her hurt. So she said to
herself:
daisy Templeton, there's something
o live for yet; the juices of life are not
Ill quite dry. Try and help somebody
IL something every day you live, in
stead of repining at your lot. God
doesn't mean you to be only waiting;'
He means you to be also doing all the
'mall things that lie in your power,
md then maybe some day you will
lear Him say, She hath done what
he could"
And this is how Daisy Templeton
'ound her mission.