76 THE SOLDIER'S NOBLE STEED.

allow him, to the great amusement of the volunteers, and the
no small. trouble of the clerk, who had thus been forced to
assume a post he would gladly have escaped from.

Old habits cling to us as stubbornly as did those of that
ancient war-steed ; and often, when we flatter ourselves that
they have been overcome, temptation appears, and we yield
to them as of yore. Do you, my young friends, take heed to
adopt only good habits, and stick to them.

 

THE SOLDIERS NOBLE STEED.

Tue horse loves his master, and soon learns to know him. A
story is told of a soldier who had a favourite horse, that
never seemed so happy as when his master was on his back.
At last, in a fierce battle, the soldier was killed, and fell from
his horse. When his body was found some days afterwards,
the faithful animal was still standing beside it! During that
long time, the horse had never left the body of his master.
' Without food or water, he had stood over it, driving away
the birds of prey. Was he not a noble animal ?

Here is another story about a soldier and his horse. Once
a poor soldier was passing along a street in London. Suddenly
he stopped, and looked for some time at a horse on the other

1?

side of the street. “I know him! I know him!” cried he,
as he ran across the street. “He is my own old horse.
Dear old fellow!” The horse seemed to know the voice.
He laid back his ears, and rubbed his nose against the hand
that stroked him so kindly.

After a few moments, the poor soldier put his hand in