A RIDE WITH A MAD HORSE IN A CAR. 215 



" As quickly as my wound permitted, I was 

 transported to Washington, whither I took the mare 

 with me. Her fondness for me grew daily, and 

 soon became so marked as to cause universal com- 

 ment. I had her boarded, while in Washington, 



at the corner of — Street and Avenue. The 



groom had instructions to lead her round to the 

 window against which was my bed, at the hospital, 

 twice every day, so that by opening the sash I might 

 reach out my hand and pet her. But the second 

 day, no sooner had she reached the street than she 

 broke suddenly from the groom and dashed away 

 at full speed. I was lying, bolstered up in bed, 

 reading, when I heard the rush of flying feet, and 

 in an instant, with a joyful neigh, she checked 

 herself in front of my window. And when the 

 nurse lifted the sash, the beautiful creature thrust 

 her head through the aperture, and rubbed her nose 

 against my shoulder like a dog. I am not ashamed 

 to say that I put both my arms around her neck, and, 

 burying my face in her silken mane, kissed her again 

 and again. Wounded, weak, and away from home, 

 with only strangers to wait upon me, and scant 

 service at that, the affection of this lovely creature 

 for me, so tender and touching, seemed almost hu- 

 man, and my heart went out to her beyond any 

 power of expression, as to the only being, of all the 

 thousands around me, who thought of me and 

 loved me- Shortly after her appearance at my 



