The Merciful Man

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 September 1916, Page 3

The Merciful Man

(By Walt Mason. O, friend protect your faithful steed, which cannot well explain its need, as human spmkers do. It cannot tell a tale of woe, but for all comforts it would know your horse .must look to you. When it is suffering distress-, it can't write letters to the press, like wrathful human souls; beneath its burden it m>ust pant; it has no vote, and so it can't rebuke you at the polls. When wintry tenvpcsts howl like sin you wrap yourself from heel to chin in things that keep von wlirm ; into a cap your head you shove, and on each hand you put a glove, and you defy the storm. But Dobbin stands tied to a post out where the blizzard blizzes most, with shaking hones and thews; if horses wept he'd shed some tears; he h'ns 110 ear-muffs 011 his ears, he has no overshoes. His silent protest is in vain unless some officer humane should take liim to the barn; you know your horse is freezing there, yet bask at ease and do not- care the fraction of a darn. Ido not see how any gent ■ i;n sit around in calm content upon a stormy day and know this horse Hs standing, tied., out where the jviiul can pierce its hide, and turn its blood to wliev.