The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-11-02
Farm anu 0arOen,
The Horse,


We often look with wonder and awe upon the
many fine specimens of this noble animal which
are seen in our cities. What would man be and
what could he do without the horseY His pres
ence and the services and the benefits which he
bestows upon man, seem to us, alone
sufficient proof of the existence of God
and OF the degree of care, and protection
which he exercises towards man. a hundred
animals, quite useful and as capable of being
domesticated Tor the service of man, might east
ly have been created by the same power that
made the horse. This one, however was suffi.
cient; and AS the Creator only designs to furnish
us with'what is necessary for our USE and renui.
site for the development Of our faculties. ONLY
this one was given.
We confess that we have often lamented the
fate of the horse, when we have seen him. as
he frequently does, evincing not only more of
the virtues OF usefulness, ainiabiiity and efforts
but even higher degree of intelligence than his
owner on driver. One is sometimes strongly
tempted 70 believe that if this animal could walk
erect and possessed hands and the power of
speech, he would be the superior OF man, and to
wonder II all ms Intelligence, docility and USE
fuless, Is never to receive any other reward than
has measure OF corn and oats, until the time
come Tor him to end his brief but laborious and
useful existence. We cannot resist the thought,
sometimes, that he is higher intelligence than
we suppose, perhaps fallen spirit, degraded in
It's embodiment and working ont life Of proba-
ton and ponance, and never look at fine, intel
hgent horse, without feeling in some degree AN
increase Of reverence and thanktUlness to the AL.
mighty Creator
The 81 ole seems TO decide the point that the
first doIue,tlcaton OF the horse in Egypt,
and not III Arabia, some have supposed
When tnc Isrdeltes came into Canaan we find
that the Guarantees went out to fight against
tAem, WIZ many chariots and horsemen.
>iZ Aaao-s! years after the time Just referred
%, Arabia had no horses Solomon imported sill
yer, gold and spices from Arabia, but all the
ha.ae, fp- Ms own cavalry and chariots he pro-
cur 1 n IA Egypt In this place it is mentioned
taD. horse brought from Egypt cost one hum
GlsL ava. iIttv -hekel> of silver, which at two
shl lln-. ,.rte pence each, the accepted value Of
as-a..gl '- SILVER, amount to about 81, an enor-
Ia.l. su.- ... those days
1hou-a T.e horse has long been the companion
ana Che seryant OF man, yet his native country
cannot with c,rt-!nty be traced. 1t seems prob
ai.. 'Aa. Ae was first domcsticated in Egypt
ta the precise period is not known. About two
,hou~an, year, before the birth Of Christ, when
Abraham Yves driven into Egypt, by the famine
which + -cd III Canaan, Pharoah offered him
sheep, oxen and camels. Horses would doubtless
hgy5 been added had they then existed or had
,ney been domesticated in Egypt Fifty years
afterwards, WHOM Abraham journeyed to Mount
Mor.ah 20 offer mp his only son, he rode upon an
as, winch with all his wealth and power he
would not have done had the horse been known
L..lsy years later an account is given of the
u.Dloer Il oxen. sheep. camels, goats and asses,
which Jacob sent 10 appcase the anger OF Esau,
MH- no horse, u: mentioned. Tweuty.four years
after this. when famine again devastated Canaan,
aui JACOB sent into Egypt to buy corn, we first
hear OF horses Wagons drawn by horses were
mt by Joseph into Canaan 70 bring his father
.uto Egypt. Even then, however, horses do not
seem to have been used as beasts of burden, for
the corn which was to be conveyed some hun
dr,l, Of miles to afford sustenance to Jacobs
large household was carried on asses.