The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-12-12
CHAPTER xxxIv.
AN OLD WAR HORSE.

AN OLD WAR HORSE.
Captain had been broken in and trained
for an army horse; his frat owner was an
officer OF cavalry going out to the Crimean
War, He said he quite enjoyed the train
ing with all the other horses, trotting
together, turning together, to the right
hand or the left, hating at the word Of
command, or dashing toward at full speed
at the sound of the trumpet or signal Of
the officer. He was, when young, dark
dappled iron gray, and considered very
handsome. His master, a young, high
spirited gentleman, was very fond OF him
and treated him from the first with the
greatest care and kindness. He told me
he thought the life of an army horse was
very pleasant; but when it came to being
sent abroad over the sea in a great ship
he almost changed his mind
"That part of it," said he, twas dread
full ! Of course we could not walk of
the land into the ship; 30 they were
obliged to put strong straps under oul
bodies, and then we were lifted off oul
legs in spite of our struggles, and were
swung through the air over the water, to
the deck of the great vessel. There we
were placed in small close stalls. and never
for long time saw the sky, or were able tc
stretch our legs. The ship sometimes
rolled about in high winds, and we were
knocked about, and felt bad enough
However, at last it came to an end, and
we were hauled up, and swung over again
to the land; we were very glad, and
snorted and neighed for joy, when we once
more felt firm ground under our feet.
We soon found that the country we had
come to was very different from our own,
and that we had many hardships 10 endure
besides the fighting but many of the men
everything they could to make them
comfortable, in spite of snow, wet, and all
things out of order.
"But what about the fighting ?" said l,
was not that worse than anything else ?''
"Well," said he, Il hardly know we
always liked to hear the trumpet sound
and to be called out, and were impatient
to start off, though sometimes we had to
stand for hours, waiting for the word of
comm and; and when the word was given,
we used to spring forward as gayly and
eagerly as if there were no cannon balls,
bayonets, or bullets. 1 believe so long as
we felt our riders firm in the saddle, and
his hand steady on the bride, not one of
US gave way to fear, not even when the
terrible bombshells whirled through the
air and burst into a thousand pieces.
II, with my noble master, went into
many actions together without a wound /;
and though l saw horses shot down with
bullets, pierced through with lances, and
gashed with fearful sabre-cuts; though we
left them dead on the field, or dying in the
agony of their wounds, 1 don't think 1
feared for myself. My masters CHEEKY
voice, as he encouraged his men, made me
feel as if he and could not be killed. 1
had such perfect trust IN him, that whilst
he was guiding me, was ready to charge
up to the very lannon's mouth. l saw
many brave men cut down, many fall
mortally wounded from their saddles. l
had heard the cries and groans of the
dying, had cantered over ground slippery
with blood, and frequently had to turn
aside to avoid trampTing on wounded man
or horse, but, until one dreadful day, had
never felt terror; that day I shall never
forget"
Here old Captain paused for while and
drew a long breath; 1 waited, and he
went on.
Ito be continued next Sunday)