Poor Grim was pretty badly gashed up from the pocket-knife in the man's hand, but he had proven himself faithful. The man was soon handed over to justice, the dog being cared for by Dr. Dick and Mrs. Fred. I did not see him again for several weeks, as they removed him at once to the house. I missed him very much, especially nights when the other horses were out.
One circumstance that he told me, among many others, I want to mention. He was speaking of the hardships endured by street-car mules. In the city where he lived they used all mules on the street cars. One day he was riding down town with his master (Ruthie's father) when, through the carelessness of the conductor in neglecting the brakes on the down grade, the car ran right on the poor creatures, cutting them very badly and breaking a leg for each.
That was the first occurrence of the kind I had ever heard of, but very many have come to my knowledge since. Just of late years humane societies are looking for such things a little in our Northern cities, but what is being done along this and other similar lines is but a drop in the bucket, compared to what there is to be done.
That spring Julie became the proud mother of a handsome roan colt, and as it was born on Chet's birthday, it was given to him. He named it Topsy. Chet was all father, hasty, passionate, headstrong, yet a coward withal, who must have a guiding hand to keep him anywhere near the right. This "hand," so far in his life, had been the slender white one of his mother.
Carm, three years younger, was more like the gentle being who gave him birth; naturally refined and good, but, unlike her, easily led and controlled. Could a sad calamity that visited the family the next fall have been averted, how different might have read the story of these lads' lives.
The summer was not particularly eventful, so far as I could see, but I had a premonition of coming ill. Master seemed dispirited, and frequently told me that life was not worth the living. One morning I was surprised to feel a side-saddle on my back. Master put his face close to mine and whispered words that put me all of a tremble; it was a sad hour. Tenderly Dr. Fred lifted his wife to my back, while Dr. Dick mounted Prince. For the first time I noticed how pale Mrs. Fred was and how worried her husband looked. After that I carried her often for a time, sometimes accompanied by my master, as on the first morning, but more often by Dr. Fred on Julie. He dared not mount Prince.
After awhile the saddle was given up for the single buggy, and then the gentle woman ceased going out at all. It was late one morning before Bob came out to attend to us, and I noticed that he was crying softly.
"She's just been like a mother to me," he burst out at last, "and now she's gone. I'll never have another sech a friend."
I was wild to ask some questions, but of course could only paw and whinny softly until Master came slowly in. The first thing he did was to lean his head down on my shoulder and murmur.
"She's with Annie now; God help us all!"