82 ' MY horse; my love. 



stallion of Arab descent, who always whinnied at 

 my step, expecting his frequent caress. The man, 

 with a sad shake of his head, told me the result of 

 having hired him out to two young men who were 

 very ambitious to drive him. He warned them 

 that the horse was not thoroughly broken. 'In what 

 way?' said they. 'Well, you see, he is very good 

 under the saddle, but objects strongly to being 

 hitched, and it isn't everybody who can manage 

 him. ' 



" ' Let us have him, and we will break him to har- 

 ness for you. ' 



"'AH right,' said the proprietor, 'he has cost me 

 a pretty penny kicking things to pieces, but if you've 

 a mind to try him don't forget I warned you. ' 



"'Well, we'll take him and tame him, too, but 

 first I'll go for my Mexican bit.' 



" Returning shortly, he placed the bit in the young 

 horse's mouth, and the horse was finally hitched to 

 the buggy. As he was led out of the stable he pranced 

 proudly and playfully, lifting his feet daintily, and 

 glancing from side to side, already uneasy at what 

 seemed ever approaching his hind legs. A tug at the 

 bit warned him to go quietly, and he proceeded, still 

 uneasy and half-scared, until the smooth country road 

 was reached." 



Then did he run away? 



" No, but he protested with his hind legs, for he 

 had felt the insulting whip, and his mouth ! The 

 cruel two-edged sword was doing its work, cutting 

 into his palate, his gums, his tongue. In vain he 

 tried to run awa}^ from the agony of it, but the bit 



