|
In a
very
pleasant
ranch
lived a
young
horse.
There he
had
everything
he
needed:
he ran
through
the
fields
where he
did not
lack
food,
and when
he was
thirsty
he drank
water
from a
crystalline
stream.
At night
he would
retire
to the
stable
and
sleep
peacefully.
One day,
however,
the old
horse
that
pulled
the
wagon
died
while
taking
the
ranch
owner to
the
village
to
|
 |
|
deliver
the
produce
harvested
in the
crops,
so the
owner
chose
the
young
horse to
do that
job. |
The ranch owner
sent a ranch
hand to fetch
him in the field
and strap him to
the wagon, and
then said:
- My little
horse, you're
already grown up
and you're going
to start
working.
Even though he
was a pure breed
animal he was
very docile so
he accepted it
without
complaining
because after
all he had never
left the ranch,
and now he was
going to meet
other people and
see other places
that were
perhaps even
more beautiful
than the ranch!
But soon he
realised that it
would not be
like that.
His life changed
a lot. Now he
could no longer
run through the
fields freely,
under the sun
shining up in
the sky. He
would wake up at
dawn, eat in the
trough, and
drink water from
a dirty bucket.
The ranch hand
would put the
harness on him,
attaching him to
the trace1 of
the wagon. When
he was ready,
the owner would
hop on the wagon
and, with rude
manners, shout
orders, snapping
the whip on his
back so he would
start moving.
- Come on, you
slacker! Let’s
go!...
When the ranch
owner pulled on
the reins, the
bit would hurt
his mouth and
the straps would
hurt his body.
However, the
little horse
would not react
and start to
move faster.
On the way to
the village, he
could feel the
weight of the
loaded wagon.
Then, on their
return, he had
the weight of a
heavy load,
transporting the
purchases the
owner made.
Over time, he
began to feel
sad. He was
constantly in
great pain
because his body
was now always
covered with
sores. But in
spite of
everything, even
the way he was
treated, he
liked his owner.
One day they
went to the
village, and it
was taking the
ranch owner a
long time to get
back. Patiently,
the horse waited
for his master
in the street,
without food or
water.
It was getting
very late and
the man would
not come back.
Suddenly, the
little horse saw
his owner
creeping down
the street and
he seemed to be
in very bad
shape. Before
long, the man
fell down and
did not get up.
The horse began
struggling to
release himself
from the harness
that was
fastened to a
small wooden
pole and only
after a lot of
effort he
succeeded.
He ran to his
master but no
matter how much
he licked the
man’s face or
pushed him with
his muzzle, he
did not move.
The horse
decided to take
him home. The
place was not
far away and
with a bit of
effort he would
manage to do it.
So he grabbed
his master by
the clothes and
pulled him with
his strong
teeth. The
effort was great
but the brave
horse did not
give up. When he
was very tired,
he would stop,
but soon he
would go on
again… Stop
again and then
carry on...
Overcoming the
distance little
by little, after
hours they
arrived at the
ranch.
Frightened, the
owner's wife
came rushing to
know what had
happened.
As she saw her
husband
unconscious and
the little horse
attached to the
wagon, his legs
trembling with
exhaustion, she
understood
everything.
- You’ve been
drinking again,
haven’t you?
When are you
going to learn
that alcohol
will only hurt
you? Look at
your state!...
She approached
the brave
animal, caressed
him and said:
- Thank you,
little horse!
You have shown
that you are
very
intelligent,
courageous and
faithful.
She then took
the harness off
of him and freed
him.
She called the
ranch hand and
together they
took the man
home. As he
reached the
stable, the
little horse had
to lie down
because of how
tired he was.
The ranch hand
brought him
plenty of food
and water.
 |
When his
master
recovered
from his
drunkenness,
he went
to the
stall to
see his
horse,
which
had once
been a
beautiful
animal
but was
now
covered
with
sores
and had
his mane
dirty
and dull
which
filled
the
ranch
owner
with
pity.
- My
little
horse, I
was very
unfair
to you
by
making
you pull
the
wagon.
And you
helped
me,
worrying
about me
and
bringing
|
|
me home
with
great
difficulty.
Forgive
me!
Despite
the
ill-treatment
I gave
you, you
have
proven
that you
like me,
and I
will be
forever
grateful
to you
for
that. |
The master
embraced the
horse, which had
been listening
to him with his
head down, and
concluded:
- From today on
you are free.
And I promise
you I will not
make any more
animals pull the
wagon. I'm going
to buy a pickup
truck to do the
job.
The horse, with
wet eyes,
approached his
master and
licked his
hands, showing
he was thankful.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Célia X. de
Camargo on
8/7/2011.)
1 - Traces, also
known as tugs, are
the straps or
chains which
take the pull
from the
breastcollar or
hames to the
load.
