"Hasbeen” sends a “Neigh”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 105, 4 May 1929, Page 19 (Supplement)

"Hasbeen” sends a “Neigh”

Dear bUehcljl and Children of the If endy Hut, This letter of mine will, 1 have no doubt, come as a great surprise Io you all, but 1 felt I really must drop you a few lines. The news has already spread throughout the Animal Kingdom, to which 1 belong, that a dog and a cat have been allowed to join Jiour Hut. All the animals, as you may imagine, are greatly excited about it, and I may tell you li’C never lose an opportunity to discuss the wonderful news. Nowadays, this beautiful old world of ours seems in too much of a hurry to pay much attention to We animals. When I say this Ido not mean that humans are unkind to us. Oh, no, not at all! Exactly what I mean is this: Many years ago, when the pioneers first came to this bonuie land of ours, few animals existed that could be used to perform the tasks of haulage or travel. However, it was not long before members of my kind were brought to New Zealand, and, up till a few years ago, occupied a large place in its social and industrial activities. Then, boys and girls, there came the motor-car. In those days, it was a terrible contraption, and it used fo make an awful noise as it travelled about. My companions and I did not like it, so we held a great meeting unknown to anyone, eventually deciding that the only way in which we could oust these spluttering, evil-smelling monsters was always to shy and make a fuss when we met them. Well, We pul our plan into operation; but the result was not what we had bargained for. Instead of these monsters being put off the roads, more and more of them came, and, as the years rolled by, they became so popular that they outnumbered us many times. Our plan failed, and to make matters worse my strength was often used to pull these road things out of places where they had become stuck, or Perhaps drag them for miles along the roads, uphill and down, until I brought them to their garages, just because they refused to Work, “ thing 1 have never done. Well. Wendy, I am getting on in years, as you will see by the photo I send of myself (I am only used now to carry my master’s children to school and home again). I lost a better one 1 had taken whilst in my prime; but I hug to myself the thought that—perhaps even as old as I am—l may even yet see my old enemy vanquished by the more modern method of travelling, namely, the aeroplane. 1 know I never could hope to convey my master so rapidly from place to place; but I do say with some degree of pride, 1 never have broken down by the Wayside, and caused him to say the things I've heard him say to his motor-car on numerous occasions. Dear Wendy and children, time is getting on, and I have come to the end of my tether, so to speak, and I may be boring you, but to me, q relic, of the old days, it has given me great delight and satisfaction to be afforded an opportunity of telling you a little about myself. If you have a mind to receive me kindly, you will make my few remaining years a source of comfort, for 1 already know, through "Jack the Dog and Puss,” of the great kindness and thoughtfulness existing in your warm little hearts for others, and although I am now only an old saddle horse, for whom few have any use, yet I could tell you some of my many adventures. Would you like me to? 'lf you Would, I will do so, providing Wendy will permit me. I must now bring my letter to a close, for my eyes, dimmed by the years, soon grow tired, so I will say good-bye fc- the present, If ishing the. Hut all success, "HASBEEN"