The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-08-28
HIS COLT ROYAL.

father said to me: Samuel, walk down
the lane with me to the pasture lot. l
want to show you something" Never
suspicioning anything, trudgcd along
with father, and what should find in tho
pasture lot but the cunningcSt, prctticst,
Nvclicst colt boy ever clappcd eyes on.
That is my birthday present to you,"
said father. eyes, Samuel, give the colt
to you to do with as you like, for you've
been good boy and have done well ut
school,"
You can easily understand that my boy
ish heart overlooked with pride and joy
and gratitude. ~ great many years have
elapsed since that time, but l haven't for-
gotten and never shall forget the delight
of that moment, when 1 realized that had
n colt of my own real. 1.-Two colt and u
Morgan colt ut that
"How old is he, fathcr?" asked
"a week old, come tomorrow" said
father.
HAS Judge Phipps seen him yct0"
asked.
"No; nobody has seen him but you and
me and tho hired man.
Judge Phipps was the Justice of tho
peace. had Il profound respect for him,
for what he didn't know about horses
wasn't worth knowing. / was sure of this,
One of the first duties to which applied
myself was to go and got the judge and
show him tho colt. The judge praised the
pretty creature Unfortunately, cnumcrating
oil his admirable points and predicting II
famous career for him. The judge even
went so far MS to express the conviction
That in due time my colt would win Elm
pcrishablo rcnown and immortal laurcls
as n competitor Mt tho meetings of the
1t.
of which association the Judge was tho
president, much to the scandal of his csti-
Unable wife, who viewed with pious horror
her husbands connection with tho race
track.
"What do you think L ought TO name
my colt:' 1 asked the judge
when l was about your age" tho
judge answered, II had colt, and L
named him Royal. He won all tho
premiums Mt the county fair before he was
years old.
That was quito enough for me To my
thinking, every uttcrance of the Judge
was cX cathedral moreover, in my boyish
exubcrnnco L fnncied that this name
would start my colt auspiciously upon n
famous career / began ut once to think
and TO speak of him rs the prospective
winner of countless honors.
From the moment when first set eyes
on Royal was his stanch friend. Even
now after the lapse of years. cannot think
OF my old companion without feeling hero
in my breast sense of gratitude that that
honest, patient, loyal friend entered SO
largely into my earlier life.
Twice II day used to trudge down tho
lane to the pasture lot to look int the colt,
and invariably was accompanied by n
troop of boy acquaintanccs who heartily
envied mo my good luck and who RECALLED
me constantly with suggestions of what
they would do if Royal were thor colt
Royal soon became friendly with us all,
and he would respond To my call, whinny-
ing To me as | came down the lane, rs
much rs To say: Good morning To YOU
little master. | hope you are coming to
have IL romp with mo" Ana, gracious
how he would curve his tail and throw up
his head and gather his short body to-
gcthcr 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 tho first time tho marvcls of
Barnum's show, l made up my mind that
when Royal and We're old enough we
would unite our fortunes with those of u
circus, and in my Imagination l already
pictured huge and gauty posters announc
ing tho blood curtllng performances of
the dashing bareback equestrian Samuel
Cowlcs, upon his fiery Morgan stccd,
Royal. This plan was not at all approved
OF by Judge Phipps, who continued to in
slst that IL was on the turf and not in the
savdust circle that Royals genius lay and
10 tins way of thinking | was finally con
vertcd. but not until the judge had prom
iscd To give me u sulky rs soon as Royal
demonstrated his ability TO make u mile
in 2:l0.
1t is not without u sigh Of regret that in
my present narrative l pass over the five
years next succeeding the date of ROYALS
arrival, for they were very happy wears
indeed AT this distant period | am able
to recall only that my boyhood was full,
brlmlnl OF happiness / broke Royal my
sell. Father and tho hired man stood
around and made suggestions, and mt
tlines they presumed To take il hand in tho
proceedings. Virtually, however. broke
Royal To the harness and TO the saddle. and
AFTER thht was even more attached to him
than ever baforc-ynu know how it is If
ever you've broke "a colt yourself.
When went away to college. il seemed
to me that leaving Royal wa, almost MS
hard rs leaving mother and father. You
see, the colt had become very large pnrt
of my boyisi lifc-folluwcd me like n net
dog, WAS lonesome when / wasn't round.
used 10 rub his nose against my arm and
look lovingly ut me ont Of his big, dark,
mournIul cycs--ycS, cried when | said
goodby 10 him The morning | started for
Wiliiamstown | was ASHAMED OF 1t then,
now-no no. now
l5ni i AL the l;ccncr, guess,
when came homo 80 vacation times.
Thpr VIZ hrd il up Ill! ana down dale