 | A Dream |  |
70
BROTHER BILL'S LAST MOUNT.
Five years ago I rode this track.
Oh! I remember well that day!
'Twill live forever in my mind,
And time cannot its horror stay.
Oh! I remember well that day!
'Twill live forever in my mind,
And time cannot its horror stay.
I rode with brother Bill, just twelve,
Upon that sad and fatal run,
The day he died, was killed, my friends,
Was pale and cold ere setting sun.
Upon that sad and fatal run,
The day he died, was killed, my friends,
Was pale and cold ere setting sun.
It was, as now, the Derby Day,
With fortunes staked to win or lose.
He rode Gray Bess, the fastest horse
That sharp experts could ever choose.
With fortunes staked to win or lose.
He rode Gray Bess, the fastest horse
That sharp experts could ever choose.
The night before the race, I slept
In stall with horses, watched with care
My mount, lest danger should there come,
And make him lose by ways unfair.
In stall with horses, watched with care
My mount, lest danger should there come,
And make him lose by ways unfair.
71
At two my brother came to me,
And tears were in his youthful eyes.
He said: “O George! good news I bring!
We ride the best beneath the skies.”
And tears were in his youthful eyes.
He said: “O George! good news I bring!
We ride the best beneath the skies.”
“To-morrow night our fortune's won
If we should see this race go through.
Our horses are the swiftest ones.
The race now lies between us two.
If we should see this race go through.
Our horses are the swiftest ones.
The race now lies between us two.
“The rest are green—all two-year-olds,
And swift just in their owners' eyes;
And we must win this Derby race
And fame is mine—just watch me rise.
And swift just in their owners' eyes;
And we must win this Derby race
And fame is mine—just watch me rise.
“Gray Bess looks like a greyhound rare.
She knows she'll win; I told her why;
And ere to-morrow's setting sun
For us the cheers will rend the sky.
She knows she'll win; I told her why;
And ere to-morrow's setting sun
For us the cheers will rend the sky.
“I left her with the stable boy.
He's trusty as a deacon's word;
And now, good bye, my brother George;
She'll make the wire like a bird.”
He's trusty as a deacon's word;
And now, good bye, my brother George;
She'll make the wire like a bird.”
72
And then the young one went away,
Back to his charge in “No. 10,”
And left me all alone with mine,
My gallant, trusty Flying Ben.
Back to his charge in “No. 10,”
And left me all alone with mine,
My gallant, trusty Flying Ben.
That afternoon the race came on
And raised our joyous spirits higher;
And we prepared to make our race
And cross ahead the finish wire.
And raised our joyous spirits higher;
And we prepared to make our race
And cross ahead the finish wire.
The owners of Gray Bess and Ben
Were gay with hopes, and staked their all
Upon Gray Bess, the thoroughbred,
Then waited for the judges' call.
Were gay with hopes, and staked their all
Upon Gray Bess, the thoroughbred,
Then waited for the judges' call.
The young one wore our Nation's stripes—
His blouse the red, and white, and blue.
He wore a look upon his face
That made me know that he was true.
His blouse the red, and white, and blue.
He wore a look upon his face
That made me know that he was true.
The gong was sounded, clear and long.
I saw him swing upon his mount,
Then smile at me—his last—dear boy,
And then began to jockeys count.
I saw him swing upon his mount,
Then smile at me—his last—dear boy,
And then began to jockeys count.
73
I, swinging, then, upon my Ben,
Rode after him out on the track;
We, ten in all, rode down the stretch
One hundred yards, and then rode back.
Rode after him out on the track;
We, ten in all, rode down the stretch
One hundred yards, and then rode back.
And then—the gong! we dash'd ahead,
All fighting for a better place,
And by the wire went we ten,
On to dear Bill's great fatal race.
All fighting for a better place,
And by the wire went we ten,
On to dear Bill's great fatal race.
He rode just half a length ahead,
I spurred up to his horse's side,
And stole one glance right in his face
Five minutes just before he died.
I spurred up to his horse's side,
And stole one glance right in his face
Five minutes just before he died.
One-half a neck ahead we shot,
Both side by side, we rode our foal;
The eight they followed hot behind,
Just as we passed the quarter pole.
Both side by side, we rode our foal;
The eight they followed hot behind,
Just as we passed the quarter pole.
And then they closed upon us two
When at the half we neared our way,
And urged ahead one-half a length,
But at that place they did not stay.
When at the half we neared our way,
And urged ahead one-half a length,
But at that place they did not stay.
74
For at the stretch, just at the turn,
We let our horses lengthen out
And dashed ahead one-half a neck,
Then from the grand stand rose a shout.
We let our horses lengthen out
And dashed ahead one-half a neck,
Then from the grand stand rose a shout.
And then we whipped and spurred all ten,
And yelled, and urged them to the end.
On by me flew Gray Bess and Bill,
And then the crowd the air did rend.
And yelled, and urged them to the end.
On by me flew Gray Bess and Bill,
And then the crowd the air did rend.
Again I shot up to his side.
All eight they followed close, the rear,
And then I lost my place once more,
And Bill ahead was without fear.
All eight they followed close, the rear,
And then I lost my place once more,
And Bill ahead was without fear.
And then the crowd much louder yelled,
The drums beat, and the flags waved higher,
For Bess and Bill, a length ahead,
Were safe—they dashed beneath the wire.
The drums beat, and the flags waved higher,
For Bess and Bill, a length ahead,
Were safe—they dashed beneath the wire.
But there, he reeled, he swayed and fell,
Gray Bess hoof struck him in his back;
And Bill lay dying, though he'd won,
Right there upon this same race track.
Gray Bess hoof struck him in his back;
And Bill lay dying, though he'd won,
Right there upon this same race track.
75
“Speak, Bill,” I cried, when I rode back,
And knelt down by his dying side.
“You've won!” I cried, “your fame is won!”
He moved and smiled, and then he died.
And knelt down by his dying side.
“You've won!” I cried, “your fame is won!”
He moved and smiled, and then he died.
| A Dream | |