9. When the nurse lifted the sash, the beautiful creature thrust her head through the aperture, and rubbed her nose against my shoulder, like a dog. I am not ashamed to say that I put both my arms around her neck, and, burying my face in her silken mane, kissed her again and again. The affection of this lovely creature for me seemed almost human; and my heart went out to her beyond any power of expression.

10. Shortly after her appearance at my window, the groom, who had divined where he should find her, came into the yard. But she would not allow him to come near her, much less, touch her. If he tried to approach, she would lash out at him with her heels, most spitefully; and then, laying back her ears and opening her mouth savagely, would make a short dash at him; and, as the terrified African disappeared around the corner of the hospital, she would wheel, and, with a face bright as a happy child's, come trotting to the window for me to pet her. I shouted to the groom to go back to the stable, for I had no doubt but that she would return to her stall when I closed the window.

11. Rejoiced at the permission, he departed. After some thirty minutes, the last ten of which she was standing with her slim, delicate head in my lap, while I braided her foretop and combed out her silken mane I lifted her head, and, patting her softly on either cheek, told her that she must "go." I gently pushed her head out of the window, and closed it; and then, holding up my hand, with the palm turned toward her, charged her, making the appropriate motion, to "go right back to her stable." For a moment, she stood looking steadily at me, with an indescribable expression of hesitation and surprise in her clear, liquid eyes, and then, turning lingeringly, walked slowly out of the yard.

12. Twice a day, for nearly a month, while I lay in

At the appointed

the hospital, did Gulnare visit me. hour, the groom would slip her headstall, and, without a word of command, she would dart out of the stable, and, with her long, leopard-like lope, go sweeping down the street, and come dashing into the hospital yard, checking herself, with the same glad neigh, at my window; nor did she ever once fail, at the closing of the sash, to return directly to her stall. The groom informed me that, every morning and evening, when the hour of her visit drew near, she would begin to chafe and worry, and, by pawing, and pulling at the halter, remind him that it was time for her to be released.

13. Of all exhibitions of happiness, either by beast or man, hers was the most positive on that afternoon, when, racing into the yard, she found me leaning on a crutch, outside the hospital building. The whole corps of nurses came to the doors, and all the poor fellows that could move themselves crawled to the windows to see her. What gladness was expressed in every movement!. She would come prancing toward me, head and tail erect, and, pausing, rub her head against my shoulder, while I patted her glossy neck; then, suddenly, with a sidewise spring, she would break away, and pace around me with that high action and springing step peculiar to the thorough-bred.

14. Again, like a flash, dropping her tail, laying back her ears, and stretching her nose straight out, she would speed away with that quick, nervous, low-lying action which marks the rush of racers, when, side by side and nose to nose, with the roar of cheers on either hand, they come straining up the home stretch. Returning from one of these arrowy flights, she would come curveting back; now, pacing sidewise as on parade; now, dashing her hind feet high into the air; and, finally, would approach and stand happy in her reward, — my caress.

LIV. A RIDERLESS WAR-HORSE-CONCLUDED.

IT T was a sight, indeed, to see Gulnare on review-day, as she came down Pennsylvania Avenue. If the pageant had been all in her honor and mine, she could not have moved with greater grace and pride. With dilating eye and tremulous ear, ceaselessly champing her bit, her heated blood bringing out the magnificent lace-work of veins over her entire body, she moved, with a high, prancing step, down the magnificent street, the admired of all beholders.

2. Cheer after cheer was given, huzza after huzza rang out over her head from roofs and balcony, bouquet after bouquet was launched, by fair and enthusiastic admirers, before her; and yet, amid the crash and swell of music, amid the cheering and tumult, so gentle and manageable was she, that, though I could feel her frame creep and tremble under me as she moved through that whirlwind of excitement, no check or curb was needed; and the bridle-lines the same she wore when she came to me at Malvern Hill — lay, unlifted, on the pommel of the saddle.

3. Never before had I seen her so grandly herself. Never before had the fire and energy, the grace and gentleness of her blood, so revealed themselves. I need not say that I shared her mood. I sympathized in her every step. I entered into all her royal humors. I patted her neck, and spoke loving and cheerful words to her. I called her my beauty, my pride, my pet. And did she not understand me? Every word! Else, why that listening ear, turned back to catch my softest whisper; why the responsive quiver through the frame, and the low, happy neigh?

4. "Well," I exclaimed, as I leaped from her back, at the close of the review, well, Gulnare, if you should

die, your life has had its triumph. The nation itself, through its admiring capital, has paid tribute to your beauty, and death can never rob you of your fame;" and I patted her moist neck and foam-flecked shoulders. 5. At length, the morning of our departure dawned. The brigade was formed in line for the last time, and, as I rode down the front to review the boys, she moved with all her old battle grace and power. I said a few words of farewell to the men whom I had led so often to battle, — with whom I had shared perils not a few, and by whom, as I had reason to think, I was loved, and then gave, with a voice slightly unsteady, the last order they would ever receive from me: "Brigade, attention! Ready to break ranks! Break ranks!"

6. The order was obeyed. But, before they scattered, moved by a common impulse, they gave first, three cheers for me; and then, with the same heartiness, and even more power, three cheers for Gulnare. And she, standing there, looking, with her bright, cheerful countenance, full at the men, pawing the ground with her fore feet, seemed to understand the compliment; for no sooner had the cheering died away, than she arched her neck to its proudest curve, lifted her thin, delicate head into the air, and gave a short, joyful neigh.

7. My arrangements for transporting her had been made, by a friend, the day before. A large, roomy car had been secured, its floor strewn with bright, clean straw, a bucket and a bag of oats provided, and everything done for her comfort.

8. As the brigade broke up into groups, I glanced at my watch, and saw that I had barely time to reach the cars before they started. I shook the reins upon her neck, and, with a plunge, — startled at the energy of my signal,-away she flew. What a stride she had! What an elastic spring! She touched and left the earth as if her limbs were of spiral wire.

9. When I reached the car, my friend was standing in front of it, the gang-plank was ready, I leaped from the saddle, and, running up the plank into the car, whistled to her; and she, timid and hesitating, yet unwilling to be separated from me, crept slowly and cautiously up the steep incline, and stood beside me.

10. Inside, I found a complete suit of flannel clothes, with a blanket and, better than all, a lunch-basket. My friend explained that he had bought the clothes, as he came down to the depot, thinking, as he said, "that they would be much better than your regimentals," and suggested that I doff the one and don the other. To this I assented the more readily, as I reflected that I would have to pass one night, at least, in the car, with no better bed than the straw under my feet.

11. I had barely time to undress before the cars were coupled and started. I tossed the clothes to my friend with the injunction to pack them in my trunk and express them on to me, and waved him my adieu. As I sat, dreamily admiring the beauty before me, Gulnare came, and resting her head upon my shoulder, seemed to share my mood.

12. Then I thought of home, unvisited for four long years, that home I left, a stripling, but to which I was returning, a bronzed and brawny man. I thought of mother and Bob, how they would admire her! - of old Ben, the family groom,—had they not all heard of her, my beautiful mare, she who came to me from the smoke and whirlwind, my battle-gift? How they would pat her soft, smooth sides, and tie her mane with ribbons, and feed her with all sweet things from open and caressing palms! — W. H. H. Murray (abridged).