Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-03-16

4
following letter from Grant Thorburn. (lauric
lodd), which contains some interesting anec-
doles OF the horse, for which the venerable
writer may be considered good authority:
- In all the universe of God, perhaps, he has
not given unto man a more useful, more In
tclligent, and more grateful animal than the
horse. lie is a thinking, calculating and a
soclal animal. Treat him as he knows he
ought 10 be treated, and he is thy companion,
Thy friend, and in thy defence he will sacrifice
his own life. Pity he is so abusad,-pity to
see him bound in a dirt cart, his bones piercing
the skin, a load far beyond his strength, q
brute having two legs, but more ignorant than
bis horse, beating him with a club because he
wont move the load which he is willing though
unable 10 drag,-ths unicelng mortal should
be marched to the post, there 10 receive forty
stripes save one.
] will relate f,w anecdotes, hoping il may
induce men to treat him VITA more kindness.
had the following FROM gentleman, Of whose
veracity there is no doubt 4 friend Of his
was riding home in dark night through .
wood he struck his head against tree and
fell stunned to the ground. The horse return
ed 10 the house they had Jeff paved at the door
and some On1 came out. The horse turned
ahead. lie was followed by a man who found
his master lying scnsrless. Thus tha hons
saved the masters liir.
When a man Is uniformly kind to his horse,
the animal will never desert him in distress.
An acquaintance Of minc having drank deep
and late at tavern, was placed on his horse
and started for home-iali from the sadllc--in
the morning he was found living asleep on his
side, the horse lying with his back TO the back
oi his master. 1t was thought that the warmth
Of the animal kept the man alive.
i have seen. said friend Of mine, a child
of five years old sent tor hy In, wif' of the
keeper to quiet an unruIy horse, for to no other
person would he yield such implicit obedience
but pat from her tiny hand or the lnf3utlic in
qury, wv hat > Tie matter with your was
sufficient to allay every obs'rcporous symptomI
but il was only TO her he yielded such sub
mission, for, otherwise, he was hgh-spIritcd
and really intractablc animal. This child
was often found fast asleep on the neck Of the
horse, when he laid himself down in the stall!
and so long as she continued TO sleep, so long
the horse invariably remained in his reculnbcnt
position.
There !s something mysterious IN the manner
in which the horse discovers and avoids perils
Of which his master IS quite unsuspiclous. IN
1916, gentleman in France was about to
cross bridge in a cabnolet the horse stopped
-ncitllcr whip nor coaXng would induce him
to move, while urging the horse, the arch
fcll thus saving the life of the master.
A few months ago there died in my stable q
horse by the name of Billy. lie had carried /
my wife, my children, my grandchildren and
my great-grand children He was white
Canadian pony, and as docilc as a child. One
day, going to a village on Long Island, on /
part Of the road where was obliged to pass
they were making stone fence, the road lay
rucumbCrCd with Oy-carts. chains, lime barrels.
large stones. &c, - asto make II almost i'm
passabc even IN day light got detained \
beyond expectation. When returning ii was
very dark.
" hen came to the road making dcIari-
mcnt could not see my horse's head. lie
stopped. 1t was the end of March, the frost
'oming out Of the ground Had / stepped
from the wagon, would have sunk to the
knees in mud. Now Billy says !, can't II
see. cant wall; you must try not to upset II
me- fvou can | Stacked the rens-' Now. n
says |, Billy, ye may gaRg Yer am ,gGH. =
,he understood Scotch as well IA if he had |
been born in ScoiIand) He put his nose to
he ground; he crossed he tackled and wore /
ship like an Old sailor among breakers; he
brought me ont safe. Wen done, Billy, Y,
says ], you shall get hEF, u quarts) OF /
rats for this He clapped his feet TO the n
Tround and IN ten minutes we were at the
table door. II
| washed the mud from his legs, rubbed him
own, made bed OF clean straw, gave hnn a
rink, and then hlS oats and bld him good
light. lie returned a u" "'rf'r, as II ne sad,
thank ye.' Las, summer tha Wiie OF one OF
~ sons died Biliy went WIN man down /
New lork ana brought up her oUR. ii