Sometimes people must go fast; but one who would distress and torment a horse to make him go fast, just because it pleases the driver to be moving quickly, is doing a very wrong thing; and so is the person who could neglect to give food and drink to a horse when he wants it.  I wonder when I see the poor doing this.  They know what it is to be overworked, and to want as much as they could eat; they are often cold, and cannot get fuel enough:  and if they were tied up, and not able to run about, or to help themselves, having no servants to wait on them, how very badly off they would think themselves!  Yet a poor horse is much worse off; he can neither do any thing for himself, nor express his wants to others:  he does his best, serves us faithfully, obeys all that he understands; and then to be ill-used, neglected, starved!  It is a thing that I cannot bear to think of; and I hope my readers will always set their faces against such wickedness.  Remember that promise which the Lord has given, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

I dare say you have heard of the Arabs—­a wild people, the descendants of Ishmael, the son of Abraham, who possess a great deal of country in the east; and are powerful, and much feared, because nobody has been able to conquer them.  Their greatest strength consists in having the boldest, fleetest, most docile horses in the whole world.  Arabian horses may be known in a moment by their uncommon beauty, their delicate arched necks, waving manes, and long tails; but though a great price is given for them, and they are lodged, and fed, and tended with all the care possible, they cannot be so happy in a king’s palace, as in the tent or hut of their poor masters at home.  The Arab treats his horse like a child; gives it to eat of his own victuals, to drink of his own bowl of milk, and lets it sleep in the midst of his family.  Of course, the animal becomes so fond of him, that it serves him for love, carries him through all dangers, and has often been known to defend him with its life.  We cannot bring up our horses in this way, nor treat them as the wild Arab does; but knowing what sense, and feeling, and gratitude, and love, this noble creature can and does show, we ought to be always watching to avoid giving it unnecessary pain, and to persuade others to be equally kind.

I cannot tell you how it used to grieve my dumb boy, Jack, when he saw a horse ill-used; or how very kind he was to one that he had the care of.  He would sooner have wanted food and drink himself, than have allowed his master’s horse to feel hunger or thirst.  He was very tender when rubbing it down, if there was any, sore place; and if the animal got cross or impatient, he would say to me in signs, “Poor horse not know:  horse tired:  soon go sleep, poor horse!” That was a very strong, spirited animal, and needed a steady hand to rein him in; but I often saw the dumb boy jump on his back, and with only the halter over his head, guide him where he