“Let’s get him out of the way before the new horse comes,” said Reordan. “It would hurt his feelings to see a new horse in the stall that has been his for so long.”
The others felt as Reordan did, and just before the new horse arrived, old Jim came out of his stall for the last time. The intelligent creature turned his eyes on the men gathered to bid him farewell, and rubbed his nose affectionately against the shoulders of those who stood nearest him.
“He knows he’s being sent off just as well as we do,” said one, “and he’s trying to say good-bye to us.”
He certainly did know it, for his large, mild eyes had the sorrowful look that all dumb creatures have at leaving old friends.
“He looks kind of reproachful,” said one, “just as if he thought we hadn’t appreciated the good work he’s done for us.”
The men had bought a warm blanket for the old horse, knowing that he was going to a country stable which was not so warm as his stall in the engine-house. This was buckled on him, and he was led away. At the door he hesitated a moment, and looked back at his old home; then, with drooping head, he left for his new quarters.
“Be good to him,” said the captain to the man who had come to take the old horse to his new home. “The best you’ve got isn’t any too good for old Jim.”
“We’ll take good care of him,” replied the man. “You don’t need to worry about him.”
They watched the old horse so long as he was in sight, and nothing was said for some time. Then Reordan spoke,—
“Well, it’s a comfort to think we’ve done the best we could for the old horse. He’ll have plenty to eat and a good place to sleep in, and he will have as comfortable an old age as we can give him.”