SELECTED VERSES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8036, 7 January 1905, Page 7

SELECTED VERSES.

" Billy and 1."

They say they are going to shoot you, Old Billy, but don't you fret, For the fellow who darea to meddle with you must reckon with me, you bet; You're a poor old horse, Old Billy, and you aren't worth much, it is true; But you've been a faithful friend to me, and I'll see you safely through. Shoot Old Billy ? I guess not, though you . may be old and gray; the self same stretch of mercy, they'll be shooting me some day; I haven't much love for the fellows who follow the shooting plan— If they had more pity for horses and dogs, they'd have more love for man. That's right, Old Billy, I like it—your muzzle against my face; We've had rattling times together, and once we won the race— Do you remember it, Billy, the dude that we downed that day? And the way he swore, that an old farm horse should show his trotter the way ? m> Well, Billy, we're both great sinners, for we've both grown old, you know ; And we've only a little further adown the road to go ;

So we'll fare along together, till the Master calls U3 home, To the happy Home-Land stables, and our feet forget to roam.

They tell us that horses have no souls, and they all declare it's true ; That shows how little they know, Old Boy, and it proves they don't know you ; Well, well, 'tis a mighty question, and quite beyond my ken— But the more I know of horses like you, the less I brag about man.

You've been a good horse, Old Fellow, steady, and brave and true ; Tou've given us faithful service—done all that a horse could do; You have earned your keep ; you shall have it; so live a 9 ioDg as you can— Fox justice is justice, and right is right, whether it's a horse or a man. — J. 0. Sutler, in Boston Transcript.