The Faithful Horse
    
 

In a very pleasant ranch there lived a beautiful colt. There it had everything it needed: it ran through the fields, where it had food in abundance, and when it was thirsty, it would drink water from a crystalline stream. At night, the colt would retire to the barn and sleep peacefully. One day, however, the old horse that pulled the wagon died while taking the
ranch's owner to town when this needed to transport the products harvested in the fields, and so the boss decided to put the colt to service.

He sent a servant to fetch it in the fields, to harness it to the cart, and then said:

- My colt, you are grown up and will start working.

Though a purebred animal, as it was docile, it accepted without complaint. After all, it had never left the ranch, and now the horse would see other people, other places, perhaps more beautiful ones!

But it soon realized that was not the case.

Its life had changed a lot. Now it could no longer run through the fields, free, under the sun  that shone in the sky. It would wake up early, eat from the trough and drink dirty water from a bowl. An employee would put its harness, securing it to the bars of the cart. After all that was done, the owner would come up and with rude manners, he would shout orders, cracking the whip on its back so that it began to move.

- Move! … Come on, you lazy thing! On the way! ... When he pulled the reins, the harnesses would hurt its mouth, and the belts would hurt its body. However, the horse did not react, moving faster.

Now it felt the weight of the loaded wagon. Then, on the way back, the horse was under the weight of even heavier loads, carrying the purchases made by the owner.

Over time, the colt became sad. It felt great pain because its body was now always covered with sores. But, despite the treatment it received, it liked its owner.

One day they went to town but the owner took too long to return. The horse patiently waited for its master on a street, without food and water.

It was very late and the man would not arrive. Suddenly, the colt saw its owner stumbling down the street seeming to be in a very bad condition. Then he fell down and did not rise anymore.

The horse began to struggle to loosen the reins that were strapped to a small wooden pole. Then, after much effort, it managed to free itself.

The colt ran to its master, but no matter how much it licked his face or pushed him with its  muzzle, he would not budge.

The horse decided to take him home. The ranch was not too far away, and with good will, it would manage. Then, it grabbed him with its strong teeth, pulling on the clothes. The effort was great, but the mighty horse did not give up. When the colt was very tired, it would stop, then would go on, then stop again and then continue...

Overcoming the distance little by little, after a few hours they arrived at the ranch. Frightened, the owner's wife came running to see what had happened.

Seeing her husband unconscious and the colt attached to the cart, its legs shaking from fatigue, she understood everything.

- You have been drinking again, haven't you? When will you learn that drinking is bad for you? Look at you! ...

Approaching the brave animal, she gave it a cuddle and said:

- Thank you, colt! You showed that you are very intelligent, courageous and faithful.

Then she took off its harness, leaving it free.

She called an employee and together they brought the man home. Arriving at the stables, the horse fell down out of tiredness. The employee brought it plenty food and water.

When the owner recovered, he went to the barn and seeing his horse, which had been a beautiful animal but now was all injured, dirty, with dull hair, he was filled with pity.

- My dear colt, I was very unfair with you, putting you to pull the wagon. And you helped me, worrying about me and bringing me home with great difficulty. Forgive me! Despite my ill-treatment, you proved that you like me, and I shall be forever grateful for that.

The owner embraced the horse, that listened with its head low, and concluded:

- Starting today, you're free. And I promise you that I will not put animals to pull the wagon anymore. I'll buy a truck to do the job.

The colt, with moist eyes, approached the master, and licked his hands, showing his appreciation.

 

MEIMEI

 

(Psychographed by Celia X. de Camargo on 07/08/2011.)