He belongs to a baker. His master went into a restaurant to deliver some pies. I was sitting at a window opposite. He stayed so long in the place that I thought he had forgotten his faithful beast. After a while he came out carrying a great mug full of foaming beer. There were two other men with him. All their faces were red, and they walked unsteadily, and they were laughing loud, and shouting. Then the baker went up to his beautiful horse, and offered him the beer to drink. Do you suppose he took it? No, indeed! He gave it one sniff from his smooth, brown nostrils. Then he turned his head away with a jerk so sudden that he knocked the glass, beer and all, upon the pavement. He looked at his master as if to say, “Don’t insult me again in that way, sir!” So his bad master had to pay for both the beer and the glass. Wise old horse, he was not afraid to give his opinion of beer. Over the hills the sweet flower bells rang, High in the tree tops the little birds sang. —Tipsy-top bobolinks bent on a spree; “Hark!” cried Miss Pops. “They are singing to me, Singing to me!” Sipping their rations of honey and dew, With jewel-necked humming-birds gorgeous to see; “Now,” cried Miss Pops, “they are shining for me, Shining for me!” Sweet little Happy Heart! Pure little soul! Earth would be robbed of its darkness and dole If with the faith of thy heart I could see How much of God’s world is fashioned for me! |