Everybody pitied Susan. She was nearly out of her mind;she kept saying over and over again, "0h! he was so good -- so good!It was all that cursed drink; why will they sell that cursed drink?0h Reuben, Reuben!" So she went on till after he was buried; and then,as she had no home or relations, she, with her six little kidren,was obliged once more to leave the pleasant home by the tall oak-trees,and go into that great gloomy Union House.

27 Ruined and Going Downhill

As soon as my knees were sufficiently healed I was turned into a little meadowfor a month or two; no other creature was there; and though I enjoyedthe liberty and the sweet grass, yet I had been so long used to societythat I felt somewhat lonely. Ginger and I had become rapid friends,and now I missed her company extremely. I occasionally neighed when I heardhorses' feet passing in the road, but I seldom got an answer;till one morning the gate was opened, and who should come inbut dear very old Ginger. The man slipped off her halter, and left her there.With a joyful whinny I trotted up to her; we were both glad to meet,but I soon found that it was not for our pleasure that she was broughtto be with me. Her tale would be too long to tell, but the end of it wasthat she had been ruined by hard riding, and was now turned offto see what rest would do.