A Man by Ernest Buckler

"A Man", by author Ernest Buckler is a story about tragedy and love. Joseph's son Mark was painfully injured by an accident involving his horse one cold drizzly night. Mark had tried petting the horse and the animal seemed to want distance. He should have known by the sign of the horse's ears turned back to stop touching it but he didn't bother.

The most important part of the story besides the accidental event it's self, I believe is the ending. The tale ends as Mark realizes he never has to be scared or nervous around his father again. Joseph's caring ways were demonstrated throughout the story after the accident occurred. Mark understood his father just wanted to help him and I think that created a new feeling of comfort between father and son.

My feelings about how the family's neighbor's reacted to Mark's despair surprised me because, I imagined they would have been more shocked by what had just happened rather than just watch the poor kid shake their heads at him.

After reading the last sentence of this story I felt good about how things worked out in the end for Mark and his father. I believe the situation, as terrible as it was, for the most part helped their relationship. They're now on more of the same level when it comes to things because of what they went through.

After reading this story, I predict that Mark will be more careful of his safety and will reflect on what happened as a life lesson. Mark learned from his mistake and that's a very important thing.

This story is an affective piece of writing because it makes its reader's realize the dangers of being on a farm even if they've lived there their entire life. Hopefully people can look at Ernest Buckler's story as a life lesson its self because to me I believe it is.

The situation reminds me of when I was younger, grocery shopping with my grandparents. An older teenager had came over to pet our dog and though my grandmother warned him, he tried petting our dog anyway and she bit him. He should have understood all dogs aren't that kind and have listened to her.