The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-01-09
Keeping n Horse.
Prom the Springfield Republican,

D
/ II is very funny TO mark the almost number
less methods which the parental instinct will
adopt for It's satisfaction. The little girl /,
satisfied with doll, provided it approach
nearly enough to her own size to have one
Of the characteristics Of baby-pro,idcd it
be something which can be huggcd, and will
admit Of a change Of attire The boy takes
/ to dogs and horsos-something which he can
\ drive, and order about, and play with We
know some very cstmablc maiden ladies who
lavish their waste affections upon stump-tail-
ed and rcd'cycd poodlrs. The cat is a uni
ycrsal recipient of tenderness, which was
meant to be maternal, and intended for a lc-
| gitimatc Object Lambs monkeys, Canary
birds, crows, parrots, goats aud rabbits have
all been favored with the outpourings of
the parental instinct, so universal in human
nature.
There comes, sooner or later in the dcycl-
opmcnt OF %han, the wish to keep horse.
We do not alludc to the requirements Of bus
incss-to the cNigcncies of stagc-cuachcs, cx-
prcss-wagons, cmgrant carryalls, aud draws
but to something incident TO "a mans men
T tei condition, Ne Aal- thai this desire 10
keep a horse comes in the progress Of per
sonal development and history This time
! is not determined 10y the data Of indcpcnd-
cnt circumstances, for many men cannot re.
irain from keeping horse, though they be
poor as Lazarus. They will keep horse
aud keep him well, though his sustcnauec
Hy rTrrirti ~ ttr-- r..
IL comes upon man between the age of
thirty-yc and forty, and usually upon those
who have given up all idea of ever having
children, or having had several, have ceased
to have them, and there is no longer baby
to enchain the attention and demand care.
! Whether this is only coincidence, or n fact
lcgitimatcly illustrative of our philosophy
II may be hard to determine accurately.
The parental Instinct wishes for something
to feed, something To be blankctcd some
thing to make bed for, something to be
called by pet name, something to know it
as master, something dependent, something
that will love, something that will obey, some.
thing to be proud %, something that belongs
TO it, and, through the fact of possession be-
comes pleasant society. An unapprcciativc
outsider, to hear one Of these horsc-smitten
men talk to his animal in the stable, would
think him daft or dreaming. He deals in
terms uf tenderness. lie pats him as he
would pet child. lie really loves the crea-
/ turc. lie admirrs him, cumbs his name,
braids his tail or puts it into pullcys, and
really feels as personal insult any reflection
upon the animal made by neighbor whom
he has bitten or kicked. II this does not
make out clear case, then we are at fault in
the matter
/ Therefore, when we see man buying n
horse for the first time, and he doesn't know
why he does it, we bless him in our hearts,
and privately hope that he will let us ride
after it occasionally. We know that there is
no baby in the house, just as well as if he
had told us We blame no man for buying
horse He cannot help it, without doing
violence to his nature, and letting all his pa
rental instincts run to waste. Ii is a kind
provision of nature for keeping alive that
within man for which there may possibly
be high uses some time. 1t is an excellent
thing, too, for the animals themselves; and
I here again is capital provision of nature.
What do the Morgan and Black Hawk gem
tleman care for their children? Not su-
markee," 30 far as we know. What blessed
thing it is, then, that they may become the
foster children of men, and receive the names
of their fayoritcs among men and women
the Jenny Linds, the Pocahontases, the Cen
oral Jacksons, the Flora Temples=upon
whom may be lavishcd the symputhies not
absorbed in the family. Buy a horse by all
MEANS when the disposition comes. Do not
stop at dog if you can help it. It is de,
grading,