The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



lived but a little time on this earth ; but there 

 is one who to his dying day will never forget 

 her. In colour she was the most perfect golden 

 chestnut ; a coat as soft as silk and the brilliancy 

 and sheen of it was a thing to marvel at. Her 

 mother was the chestnut thoroughbred Mafia 

 (1900) by Orvieto by Bend Or, ex Countess 

 Macaroni by Victor Chief (see G.S.B. Vol. 

 XX.), and her sire was my grey Arab Stallion 

 Marzouk (G.S.B. Vol. XX.). It was in the 

 early days of my little stud at Goldings, and 

 Mafia was the first thoroughbred mare I bought. 

 I made much of her and she became greatly 

 attached to me. 



Marmafia was the first foal I helped to bring 

 into the world. It was a wonderful May 

 morning after a most exquisite sunrise of pearl 

 and opal — a day to be thankful one was aUve 

 to see. And the watching of this great mystery 

 of birth and the after happenings, made it a 

 wonderful day indeed to me. Marmafia was 

 cheery and liked me from the very beginning. 

 I remember how astounded I was at the self- 

 possession and acuteness of a thing so newly 

 born. I had seen babies, puppies and various 

 other little beasties shortly after their birth, 

 and had expected something of the same 

 inertness and helplessness ; but here was a 

 creature, ten minutes' old, who knew all about 

 things ! I was lying on the grass stroking the 

 little thing and scratched her on the wither, 



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