The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-09-13
HIS COLT ROYAL.

AAf1 VIVA hOO - .AAA6e
The day on which was 10 years old my
father said to me: Samuel, walk down
the lane with me to the pasture lot. I
want to show you something" Never
suspioioning anything, I trudged along
with father, and what should / find in the
pasture lot but the cnnningest. prettiest,
liveliest colt boy ever clapped eyes on.
"That is my birthday present to you"
said father. !" Yes, Samuel, give the colt
to you to do with as you like, for you've
been good boy and have done we'll at
school"
You can easily understand that my boy
ish heart overhowed with pride and joy
and gratitude. A great many years have
elapsed since that time, but haven't for
gotten and never shall forget the delight
of that moment when realized that had
colt Of my own-a real. live colt, and
Morgan colt at that.
"How old is he, fatherp" I asked.
"a week old, come tomorrow" said
father.
"Has Judge Phipps seen him YETI" I
asked.
.'No; nobody has seen him but you and
me and the hired man."
Judge Phipps was the justice of the
peace. / had profound respect for him,
for what he didn't know about horses
wasn't worth knowing. was sure of this,
because tho judge himself told me SO.
One of the first duties to which applied
myself was to go and get the judge and
show him the colt. The judge praised the
pretty creature inordinately, enumerating
all his admirable points and predicting q
far for h4,,, s,,Is
went so far as to express the conviction
that in due time my colt would win elm
perishalte renown and immortal laurels
as a competitor at the meetings of the
Hampshire County Trotting association"
of which association the Judge was the
president, much to the scandal of his esti.
mable wife, who viewed with pious horror
her husbands connection with the race
track.
"What do you think I ought to name
my colt?'' asked the judge.
"When l was about your age" the
judge answered, "I had q colt, and
named him Royal. He won all the
premiums at the county fair before ho was
0 years old. +" 4 r
That was quite enough for me. To my
thinking, every utterance of the judge
was ex cathedra; moreover, in my boyish
would start my colt auspiciously upon a
famous career. / began at once to think
and to speak Of him as the prospective
winner of countless honors.
From the moment when I first set eyes
on Royal 1 was his stanch friend. Even
now after tho lapse of years, cannot think
of my old companion without feeling here
In my breast a sense of gratitude that that
honest, patient, loyal friend entered so
largely into my earlier life.
Twice day used to trudgo down the
lane to the pasture lot to look at tho colt,
and invariably l was accompanied by q
troop OF boy acquaintance who heartily
envied me my good luck and who regaled
me constantly with suggestions Of what
they would do II Royal were their colt.
Royal soon became friendly with us all,
and he would respond to my call, whinny.
ing to me as came down the lane, as
much as to say: "Good morning to you,
little master. hope you are coming to
have a romp with me-" And gracious,
how he would curve his tail and throw up
his head and gather his short body to.
gether and trot around the pasture lot on
those long legs of his He enjoyed life,
Royal did, as much as we boys enjoyed it.
Naturally enough, made all sorts Of
plans for Royal. recall that, after had
been on visit to Springfield and had be-
held for the first time tho maryels of
Barnum's show, made up my mind that
when Royal and were old enough we
would unite our fortunes with those of
circus, and in my Imagination already
pictured huge and gaudy posters announc-
ing tho blood curdling performances of
the dashing bareback equestrian Samuel
Cowles, upon his fiery Morgan steed
Royal. This plan was not at all approved
of by Judge Phipps, who continued to in.
sist that it was on the turf and not in the
sawdust circle that Royal genius, lay and
to this way of thinking 1 was finally con.
verted, but not until the judge had prom.
ised to give me a sulky as soon as Royal
demonstrated his ability to make a mile
in 2:40
1t is not without sigh of regret that in
my present narrative I pass over the five
years next succeeding the date Of Royals
arrival, for they were very happy years
indeed at this distant period / am able
to recall only that my boyhood was full
brimful Of happiness. broke Royal my
self. Father and the hired man stood
around and made suggestions, and at
times they presumed to take hand In the
proceedings. Virtually, however, broke
Royal to the harness and to the saddle, and
after that was even more attached to him
than ever before-you know how it is II
ever you've broke colt yourself.
When went away to college, 1t seemed
to mo that leaving Royal was almost as
hard as leaving mother and father You
see, tho colt had become very large part
Of my boyish life--followcd mo like q pet
dog, was lonesome when 1 wasn't round,
used to rub his nose against my arm and
look lovingly at mo out of his big, dark,
mournful eyes-yes, cried when said
goodby to him the morning started for
Williamstown. was ashamed Of 1t then,
but not now.-nos not now.
But my fun was all the keener, guess,
when l came home at vacation times.
Then we had 1t, up hill and down dale
Royal and 1 did. In the summer time
along the narrow roads we trailed and
through leafy lanes and In my exultation
would cut at the tall weeds at the road.
side and whisk at the boughs arching over.
head, as IL were q warrior mounted for
battle and these other things were human
victims to my valor. In the winter we
sped away over the snow and ice careless
to the bowling of the wind and the wrath
of tho storm. Royal knew the favorite
road, every inch of the way He knew,
too, when Susie held the reins-Susio was
Judge Phipps' niece, and l guess she'd