In Mathare, a town in Kenya there lived long ago a very rich man who was Governor of the town. He was loved by the people of Mathare, not because he was very rich but because his heart was kind and true.
Now many of the people were poor and times were often hard. Sometimes the crop failed and they had very little food to eat. The mothers and fathers grew sick and thin, and even the plates of the children were often empty.
The good governor of Mathare thought a great deal about the troubles of his people, and when they suffered hardship and hunger his heart was moved to great pity. He built a little tower just outside his castle, and in the tower put a bell from which a long rope hung almost to the ground.
The governor made it known to the people that any person who was in trouble, sick or hungry need only ring the bell and help would be given at once.
For many years the hungry came and rang the bell and were fed. The sick rang the bell and were healed. The unhappy rang the bell and were comforted. The rope was pulled so often that it frayed, and the keeper of the bell tied up the loose threads with bits of straw.
Then everything changed. Better times came to Mathare. The harvests were good, the people prospered, and soon, in all that fair town, there was no one who was hungry, sick or needy. The rope still hung from the bell, but no hand came to put it.
Now it so happened that at that time there lived in Mathare a rich merchant whose business it was to carry goods from one part of the town to another. For many his good horse Benito carried the heavy loads. But Benito grew old and half blind and could not do the hard work he had once done so easily. The merchant bought a young strong horse and then, very cruelly, turned poor old Benito out to shift for himself.
The old horse wandered sadly about the streets of Mathare, peering with its dim eyes in search of something to eat. The days went by and thinner and thinner and weaker and weaker grew Benito, for their was little food to be found, and non one thought to feed a useless old animal.
One evening, Benito limped slowly along the road to the Governor’s castle. He reached the belfry, and seeing the straw at the end of the rope began to eat it; Tug! Tug! Tug! Went the worn old teeth of Benito, and inside the tower the bell began to peal.
The governor, who was at supper, heard it and summoned the keeper of the bell. "Go and see what is the matter", he said "It is a long time since the bell has been rung for help."
The keeper went down to the belfry. He saw an old, lame, thin, half blind horse tugging at the bell rope. He hurried back to the governor and said,"There’s no one there, Sir, just an old staved horse."
"No one!" cried the governor "is not a horse deserving of all the aid we can give? Never shall the bell of Mathare be rung and no help given!"
The governor hastened to the belfry, and when he saw the horse his eyes filled with tears. Then a gentle smile played about his mouth as he went up to Benito and patted his head.
"Well, old faithful!", he said, "you seem to be in need of food and shelter. Follow me and we will see what we can do for you."
Benito was led into the stables where he was cleaned and fed. For the rest of his days Benito lived happily with the governor. The old horse did a little light work now and again, but he spent most of his time grazing in grass meadows. Certainly he never again had to fear hunger or cold.
