and rain, as my men struggled along, through mud and mire, toward Harrison's Landing, the mare followed; and ever after, until she died, was with me and was mine, and I, as far as man might be, was hers. I named her Gulnare.

8. As quickly as my wound permitted, I was transported to Washington, whither I took the mare. Her fondness for me grew daily, and soon became so marked as to cause universal comment. The groom had instructions to lead her twice every day to the hospital window, against which was my bed, 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 loud, joyful neigh, she checked herself in front of my window.

9. 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. Her affection for me seemed almost human; and my heart went out to her beyond any power of expression.

1. Obliquely, caressingly, subjugate, unmannerly, unmanageable, vaulting, involuntarily, whirlwind, dilating, swerved,

appreciate, indescribably, tremulous, transported, bolstered, aperture.

2. When was the battle of Malvern Hill? Who commanded the forces engaged? Will most animals love you if treated kindly? Why are wild animals afraid of man? Where is Harrison's Landing?

XLI. A RIDERLESS WAR HORSE.

PART II.

1. The groom, who had divined where he should find her, came into the yard shortly after, but she would not allow him to come near her, much less touch her. If he tried to approach, she would lash out at him most spitefully, and then, laying back her ears and opening her mouth savagely, make a short dash at him, and, as the terrified African disappeared around the corner of the hospital, she would wheel and, with a face bright as a happy child's, come trotting to the window for me to pet her. I shouted to the groom to go back to the stable; for I had no doubt that she would return to her stall when I closed the window.

2. Rejoiced at the permission he departed. After some thirty minutes-the last ten of which she was standing with her slim, delicate head in my lap, while I braided her foretop and combed out her silken mane-I lifted her head and, patting her softly on either cheek, told her that she must

go. I gently pushed her head out of the window, and closed it; and then, holding up my hand with the palm turned toward her, charged her, making the appropriate motion, to "go right back to her stable." For a moment she stood looking steadily at me, with an indescribable expression of hesita tion and surprise in her clear liquid eyes, and then, turning lingeringly, walked slowly out of the yard.

3. Twice a day, for nearly a month, while I lay in the hospital, did Gulnare visit me. At the appointed hour, the groom would slip her headstall, and, without a word of command, she would dart out of the stable, and, with her long, leopard-like lope, go sweeping down the street, and come dashing into the hospital yard, checking herself, with

the same glad neigh, at my window; nor did she ever once fail, at the closing of the sash, to return directly to her stall. The groom informed me that, every morning and evening, when the hour for her visit drew near, she would begin to chafe and worry, and, by pawing, and pulling at the halter, remind him that it was time for her to be released.

4. Of all exhibitions of happiness, either by beast or man, hers was the most positive on that afternoon, when, racing into the yard, she found me leaning on a crutch, outside the hospital building. The whole corps of nurses came to the doors, and all the poor fellows that could move themselves crawled to the windows, to see her. What gladness was expressed in every movement! She would come prancing toward me, head and tail erect, and, pausing, rub her head against my shoulder, while I patted her glossy neck; then, suddenly, with a sidewise spring, she would break away, and pace around me with that high action and springing step peculiar to the thoroughbred.

5. Again, like a flash, dropping her tail, laying back her ears, and stretching her nose straight out, she would speed away with that quick, nervous, low-lying action which marks the rush of racers, when, side by side and nose to nose, with the roar of cheers on either hand, they come straining up the homestretch. Returning from one of these

arrowy flights, she would come curveting back; now, pacing sidewise as on parade; now, dashing her hind feet high into the air; and, finally, would approach and stand erect in her reward—my caress.

1. Divined, spitefully, terrified, rejoiced, appropriate, expression, lingeringly, leopard-like, exhibitions, delicate, positive, prancing, nervous, curveting.

2. Why did the groom expect to find the horse at the hospital? Do animals like to be petted? Do you think this horse understood the command? What is the homestretch?

XLII. FOOTSTEPS OF ANGELS.

1. When the hours of day are numbered,
And the voices of the night

Wake the better soul that slumbered
To a holy, calm delight—

2. Ere the evening lamps are lighted,
And, like phantoms grim and tall,
Shadows from the fitful fire-light
Dance upon the parlor wall;

3. Then the forms of the departed
Enter at the open door-

The beloved ones, the true-hearted,
Come to visit me once more;