Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-01-03

miserable mine. Nothing came OF 1t.
was growing poorer with every ton we
dug. poorer with every pound we crush.
ed. In u few months more should have
spent my last dollar and have gone to
day labor. Isaw, Of course, that some
thing must be done. What, did not
know. I was In that state when one
needs an influence without himself to
take him by the hand gently, by the
shoulder forcibly. by the hair roughly,
or even by the nose insultingly. and drag
him of into new region.
The influence came. Bad news reach
ed me. Ny only sister, q widow, my
only near relative. died, leaving two
young children to my care. 1t was
strange how this sorrow made the an.
noyance and WEAKNESS Of my life naught!
How this responsibility cheered me! My
life seemed no longer lonely and pur-
poseless. Point was given to all my In.
tentions at once. l must return home to
New York. Further plans when l am
there! But now for homel II any one
wanted my quartz mine he might have
It. could not pack II In my saddle
bags to present to college cabinet oi
mineralogy.
I determined, as time did not abso'
lutely press, to ride home across the
plains. 1t is a grand journey. Two
thousand miles or 30 on horseback.
Mountains, deserts, prairies, rivers. Nor
mons, Indians, buffalo-sdventures with
out number In prospect. A hearty cam
paign and no carpet knighthood about 1t.
II was late August. began my prep.
arations at once.
Il happened that on q journey early
In the same summer. some twenty miles
from my mine. had come upon band
Of horses feeding on the prairie. They
cantered of rs went riding down the
yellow slope, and then. halting just out
Of lasso reach. stopped 10 reconnoiter me.
One horse, however, among them, had
more courage, or more curiosity, or more
faith. He withdrew from the gregarious
commonalty-the naughty aristocrati-
and approached me. circling about rs II
he felt certain centripetal influence
-as II he knew himself higher being
than his mustang comrsdes-nearer "a
man and willing to offer him his friend
ship. He and divided the attention oi
the herd. He seemed to be, not their
leader, but rather one who disdained
leadership. Facils princepsi He wa,
too far above the noblest Of the herd to
care for their unexciting society.
lslipped quietly down from my little
Mexican caballo. and, lettering him tc
bush with the lariat. stood watching
the splendid motions Of this free steed OF
the prairie.
He was an American horse-so they
distinguish In California one brought
from the old states-a superb young
stallion. perfectly black. without mark.
Il was magnificent to zee him a. he cir
cled about me. fire In his eye. pride In
his nostril. tail flying like . banner,
power and grace from tip to tip. Nc
one would ever mount him or ride him,
unless II was his royal pleasure. He was
conscious OF his representative position.
and showed his PAGES handsomely. II ID
the business OF all beautiful things to sx'
hibit
Imagine the scene. A little hollow In
the prairie. forming . perfect amphithe-
ater; the yellow grass and wild osta
grazed short; . herd Of horses staring
from the slope. myself standing In the
middle. like the ringmsster In . circus,
and this wonderful horse performing ai
his own free will He trotted powerful.
". he galloped gracefully, he thundered
at full speed. hs lifted bis fore legs "a
welcome. be aung ont his hind legs "a
repel. hs leaped ~ II hs were sprngins
over bayonets, hs prsnosd and ous~stsd
asif hs wess the pretty plaything Of
girl, finally. when be had amused him
self and delighted me sufficiently. hs
/, trottsd up and snufIed about me. just
out Of reach.
A horss knows . friend BY instinct.
So dcss . msa. But . man, vain crsa,
tuzsl b willing 70 rspsl insApct apd