FullReads

It is not without a sigh of regret that in my present narrative I pass over the five years next succeeding the date of Royal’s arrival. For they were very happy years–indeed, at this distant period I am able to recall only that my boyhood was full, brimful of happiness. I broke Royal myself; father and the hired man stood around and made suggestions, and at times they presumed to take a hand in the proceedings. Virtually, however, I broke Royal to the harness and to the saddle, and after that I was even more attached to him than ever before–you know how it is, if ever you ‘ve broken a colt yourself!

When I went away to college it seemed to me that leaving Royal was almost as hard as leaving mother and father; you see the colt had become a very large part of my boyish life–followed me like a pet dog, was lonesome when I was n’t round, used to rub his nose against my arm and look lovingly at me out of his big, dark, mournful eyes–yes, I cried when I said good-by to him the morning I started for Williamstown. I was ashamed of it then, but not now–no, not now.

But my fun was all the keener, I guess, when I came home at vacation times. Then we had it, up hill and down dale–Royal and I did! In the summer-time along the narrow roads we trailed, and through leafy lanes, and in my exultation I would cut at the tall weeds at the roadside and whisk at the boughs arching overhead, as if I were a warrior mounted for battle and these other things were human victims to my valor. In the winter we sped away over the snow and ice, careless to the howling of the wind and the wrath of the storm. Royal knew the favorite road, every inch of the way; he knew, too, when Susie held the reins–Susie was Judge Phipps’ niece, and I guess she ‘d have mittened me if it had n’t been that I had the finest colt in the county!

The summer I left college there came to me an overwhelming sense of patriotic duty. Mother was the first to notice my absent-mindedness, and to her I first confided the great wish of my early manhood. It is hard for parents to bid a son go forth to do service upon the battlefield, but New England in those times responded cheerfully and nobly to Mr. Lincoln’s call. The Eighth Massachusetts cavalry was the regiment I enlisted in; a baker’s dozen of us boys went together from the quiet little village nestling in the shadow of Mount Holyoke. From Camp Andrew I wrote back a piteous letter, complaining of the horse that had been assigned to me; I wanted Royal; we had been inseparable in times of peace–why should we not share together the fortunes of war? Within a fortnight along came Royal, conducted in all dignity by–you would never guess–by Judge Phipps! Full of patriotism and of cheer was the judge.

“Both of ye are thoroughbreds,” said he. “Ye ‘ll come in under the wire first every time, I know ye will.”

The judge also brought me a saddle blanket which Susie had ornamented with wondrous and tender art.

So Royal and I went into the war together. There were times of privation and of danger; neither of us ever complained. I am proud to bear witness that in every emergency my horse bore himself with a patience and a valor that seemed actually human. My comrades envied me my gentle, stanch, obedient servant. Indeed, Royal and I became famous as inseparable and loyal friends.

We were in five battles and neither of us got even so much as a scratch. But one afternoon in a skirmish with the rebels near Potomac Mills a bullet struck me in the thigh, and from the mere shock I fell from Royal’s back into the tangle of the thicket. The fall must have stunned me, for the next thing I knew I was alone–deserted of all except my faithful horse. Royal stood over me, and when I opened my eyes he gave a faint whinny. I hardly knew what to do. My leg pained me excruciatingly. I surmised that I would never be able to make my way back to camp under the fire of the rebel picketers, for I discovered that they were closing in.