A monster all shiny and black
With great headlights stuck way out in front,
With brass things that grated and groaned
As the driver pulled this thing and that.
And there on the back of this monster
Sat old Tom
Who had driven him now for fifteen long years.
And out of the mouth of the monster, as there opened a neat little door,
Stepped his mistress dear
With her eager little boy and the baby in her arms.
And the poor horse trembled to see those that he loved so well
So near this terrible monster.
"'Twill eat them all!" he thought.
And for the first time in all his brave and prudent life
The old horse was frightened.
He raised his head,
He spread his nostrils,
He neighed with all his strength.
His mistress dear
Would surely hear,
Would hear and understand!
He wanted to save her, save the boy and save the little baby
From this terrible ugly beast
Snorting there so near!
And his mistress dear, she heard.
But did she understand?
She came and laid her hand upon his quivering side.
"Poor dear old horse," she said,
"Your day is gone and you must go!"
What could she mean?
What could she mean?
What could she mean?
"You have been strong; but not so strong as is our new machine!
You have been brave; but see this thing, this thing can know no fear!
You have been wise; but this machine is like a part of Tom.
He pulls a lever, turns a wheel and this machine obeys!
Poor dear old horse
Your day is gone
And now you too must go!"
So that was what she meant!
So that was what she meant!
So that was what she meant!

* * *

The old horse heard but how could he understand?
How could he know that she had said
They wanted him no longer?
How could he know that this big monster, this new automobile
Was going to do his work for them
And do it better than he!
He knew that something was wrong.
He was puzzled and sad and frightened.
With head drooped low and feet that dragged
He let old Tom untie his rope
And lead him from the stall.
For one short moment as he passed the shiny automobile
He straightened his head and widened his nostrils
And snorted and snorted again.
But there within the monster, lying safe upon a seat,
He saw the little baby
Laughing and all alone.
And the old horse was puzzled, was puzzled and fright