The Horse, as Comrade and Friend * 



thing original and amusing, and often, I am 

 sure, to please me. Wlien I called to her she 

 would come to me like a dog. 



In many of her funny little ways she re- 

 minded me irresistably of a Shire cart foal 

 whose most ardent affection I had managed, 

 when a small boy of five or six, to draw down 

 upon my devoted head ; but that cart foal was 

 so much bigger than I was then that he used to 

 bully me quite a bit. Marmafia had the habit 

 of pressing up against me as though physical 

 contact with me gave her keen pleasure, and 

 she used to rub her head and neck against me 

 in a frenzy of affection. So did the long-ago 

 Shire foal, but I was so small then that in the 

 vigour of his amiability he used often to knock 

 me down, to the great amusement of my 

 father and his friends ; but I loved that big 

 and strong cart foal very dearly all the same, 

 and we were inseparable pals. 



This little Marmafia had a very happy sum- 

 mer, when her mother, who had not done well 

 and had had to have veterinary attention, 

 sickened, and one morning was found dead, 

 with the poor puzzled foal standing beside her. 

 It was a great misfortune, and the little thing 

 missed her mother very much and often called 

 for her ; sometimes most piteously . So I was left 



235 



