El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-30
GENTLENESS
By syriel Busse.

TN the center OF newly repalreu
road three children were playing
Il In tbe yellow sand. One was glrA
- sa,-er or eight, red checked and with
Iie, candid blue eyes: then a fairnalreo
~ Of four or five who wore pali
IF nants partially kept in place oy
nair of suspenders. that, ike the
+-oIsers had evidently been his fatner >
and the last a baby in skirts, slt.ine
down in the soft sand; little Lstl
haired thing with big expressionie''
eyes.
Sitting In the shade of big tree out
side the only inn of the place. l ny
saIs vas half asleep. Though the Gay
80 1.-erm and it was only a little al
80 noon T had already ridden ABOUT
% miles and had about the same as
+once 70 cover before reaching my
dos+tnetion. There 1 sat, my eyes nan
closed. putting at short Engasp PIP
oDd almost unconscious of what was
going on about me-
Suddenly was called back TO re-
City bv piercing screams On the
~oa6 directly In front of me where
moment ago the children mao Deen
nlaving. great cart covered win Q
black tarpaulin and drawn py heers
roan horse was passing, its Wneeis
T1c
THE driver was sound asleep o1 inc
+on of the load and with horror no
+ioad that while the two older cnlld-
~, the how and the girl had fleo 10
sofe+v the baby was still sitting IN
tho middle of the road, unconscious u
- danger There was not even time
for me to rush to its assistance ce1ore
the heavy horse was on top OF IT.
Inst as I expected to see the baby
crushed under the horses hoofs, saw
the kind animal stop for fraction OF
second. lower its head, look at tHe
babv and carefully lift its feet SO tnal
it passed on without touchlhs
little one.
noIa dishevelled woman rushed up ana
Kicked up the child. Then the driver
weakened by all this cemmotion jump
"a from his cart looked back. ana
seeing what had happened, began peat
ino his horse with a heavy whip, ours
Ing and swearing in the most atrocious
maner.
with tears in my eyes I rushed TO-
,.ds him. I felt a desire to strengie
this coarse brute. but before l got
close enough to lay my hanos on nm
I grew strangely calm, and my voice
was gentle and persuasive "hen
touched his arm and said
"Comrade, do not beat your morse
any more, but come along with me anu
have drink with me.
He turned around. and looked at me
Nth a wicked and defiant expression
his ewes still sparkling with anger.
IF he strikes that horse again
thought. 1 will knock him down anu
strangle him, that Is sure II ne does
not heat 1t. 1 will forgive him, and
shall know that 1 have done good
act that my gentleness has Tor the
first time touched responsive cnoro
in his heart, which will vibrate many
times later on
He aid not strike. Perhaps he READ
and understood the significant CLEAN
in nv ewes and feared what might hap
pen.
turned to the barmaid who was one
of the crowd now gathered around the
children and ordered her to bring two
drinks Then walking up to the Morse
began TO pat its trembling RANKS.
Look here, driver" I said, you
don't object to me giving your morse
some oats. 1 suppose.
mo. sir, not at ALL" he replied IN a
low almost shameful voice.
The girl brought. the drinks and l
ordered a measure of oats for the horse
This she brought out in a basket.
The driver took the bit out Of the
horses mouth and while the poor beast
greedily ate from the basket 1 caress-
ed it's head and name