"Bob," The Pony, Reprieved
"Bob," The Pony, Reprieved is an article published in the Daily Express on 24 march 1922.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle subscribed for £3.
"Bob," The Pony, Reprieved
EX-SOLDIER SAVED FROM THE WORKHOUSE.
GENEROUS READERS.
The happiest home in all London yesterday was a bare single room above an unpretentious shop in the Lillie-road, an uninspiring thoroughfare in Fulham. It was the house of John Keefe, ex-soldier, and master of Old Bob, the bay pony.
John did not know quite what to make of things — good fortune had arrived so suddenly out of the gloom of disaster. He just smiled and held his wife's hand, and told her twenty times over of the wonderful happenings of this great day. Mrs. Keefe smiled too, but she cried quietly, just once or twice — the tears that come for sheer joy.
This is the secret of it all. John Keefe is going to have a new pony to replace Old Bob, the well-loved and faithful servant, whose years of industry were finished by the order of the West London magistrate that he must be slaughtered. John Keefe was heart-broken at the thought of losing his pony. John Keefe was in despair because the loss of the pony meant the loss of a scanty livelihood for his wife and children. Old Bob drew the cart from which John Keefe sold coal.
Renders of the "Daily Express" saw the story of John Keefe's plight yesterday, and money came quickly to the office to set him on his feet once more.
FIRST.
One of the first to promise a donation towards the cost of another pony was Mr. James White, the owner of Granely, winner of the Lincoln Handicap. He said, "Put me down for £10 10s."
The total amount subscribed up to the evening post was £19 14s. This, with other money that may be contributed, is sufficient to buy a good working pony for Mr. John Keefe, with a new cart — the old one has broken down and is terribly dilapidated — a proper set of harness, and one or two other essentials that John needs to carry on business as a street coal hawker.
Then, to crown all, John Keefe received the news that Old Rob was not to be killed after all. Our Dumb Friends Lorgne had stepped into the breach by taking the pony into its animals' hospital, where it will be looked after until some friend can be found to give it harbourage in the country.
"I do not know what to say to thank all these people who are so kind" — John Keefe blurted out these words to a "Daily Express" representative with some difficulty, for his heart was almost too full for talking. "I cannot understand it at all, I can only send these kind people the 'thank you' of an old soldier. It will mean a new life to me and the missus and the kiddies."
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
The following is a list of subscriptions received:—
Mr. James White (owner of Granely, winner of the Lincoln), £10 10s.
Mrs. Claude Watney, £10.
"M.," £10.
Collected by Mr. Sidney Smith in the Consol Market, £5 15s.
Sir A. Conan Doyle, £3.
F. Law, £1 10s.
Henry W. Holland, £1 1s.
Alfred Myers,£1 1s.
R. M., £1.
P. E. Andrews, £1.
Stanley Russell, £1.
L. P., 10s.; G. H. H., 10s.; W. Burchell, 10s.; Anonymous, Banstead, 10s.
Chas. Thomas Perfect, 5s. Anonymous, Wormwood-street, 5s.; A. C. H., 5s.; Two other Lovers of Animals, 5s.
Barbara Livermore, 4s. 6d.
"Registered Reader," Tooting Common, 3s.
Mrs. F. M. Costa, 2s. 6d.; H. Harvey, 2s. 6d.; "Oleo," 2s. 6d.; "Anon," Bethnal Green, 2s. 6d.; Mrs. F. M. Kirke, 2s. 6d.; S. R. E., 2s. 6d; "Billie and Nigger," 2s. 6d.; C. M. Anderson, 2s. 6d.; H. L. W., 2s. 6d.
A Lover of the Pony Kind, Watford, 2s.; Robert Ding, 2s.; P. M. D. C., 2s.
E. J. N., 1s.
No more money is needed.
