, 1877-03-17
,InraI sense in a Horse.

than forly-oGe years Old, ana L. IL pos
sible that he is a year or two older
for tbirty-eight years ago be was bro
ken 10 use. He is at present on The
retired list, only occasionally being
called upon TO lend helping shoulder
10 his younger colleague; but bis In
,ellect is as fresh aud as full Of expe-
dients as ever. No horse ever knew
better how TO save himself, to spare
effort. and prolong his powers no one
was ever so cunning to slip his halter,
open the feed box, and supply the
phospha;es, the necessity OF which TO
him he knew as well as any Scientist.
| have seen him, through crack in
board shanty, used while the stable
was building, lift and lay aside with
bis teeth six boxes which were piled
ATOP of one another, until he found
the oats at the bottom. Then, when
my head appeared at the window, he
instantly gave up his lcisurely, luxuri-
Gus munching OF tie grain, opened
his laws 10 their fullest extent, thrust
his muzzIe deep into the box, and
gravelv walked back to his stall with
at least a quart OF oats in his mouth.
This horse had a playful habit Of
swapping at my ann when he was
harnessed for a drive. Il always talk
10 a horse before starting, as matter
OF common politeness.) OF course l
never finchcd, and his teeth often
grazed my sleeve as he struck them
together. One day more than a dozen
years ago, he was III rather reckless
spirits, and s%apped rather too vigor-
ously, catching my arm actually III
his jaws. l scarcely felt the bite, but
| was very much surprised. The horse
however, showed sHch unmistakable
signs of regret and distress that sim
ply said, Never do that again p And
he never did. From that moment
he gave up the habit for years; he
laid back his ears or teigned anger in
other ways, but he never again made
belief to bite. This, certainly, goes
far beyond the temporary sorrow or
an uuinlentional injury which may be
referred To in animals affections.
What else is conscience than knowl,
edge of wrong made permanent by a
memory which fOTD!dS The repetition
of the wrong?
The same horse once revealed TO me
the latter quality in surprising way.
Ga telling the story privately | find
that IL is sometimes increduloaSly re
ceiged ; yet | am sure that no one
who cheTishes the proper respect for
animals will refuse it's credence. Ia
the company Of friend | was driving
along a country road in light, open
buggy. | paid no attention to the
horse, for he could turn, back or exc
cute any other manoeyer in harness as
well without as with driver. Halt
ing at house where my friend wish~
ed to call, | waited for him outside.
Presently the horse looked back at
me, twisting his body between the
thilIS IN a singular fashion. | pre-
ceived that he had some eommuniea-
ton to make, aud said, WHAT'S the
matter now, Ben ? Thereupon, by
twisting a little more, lie managed 10
hold up his right hind foot. and saw
that the shoe had been lost. That's
right said | :; 'you shall have a new
shoe as soon as We get TO the village
lie sat down his foot, and Tor 4 mo-
ment seemed satisfied. Then the
same turning of the head and twisting
of the body was repeated. what
BeE is anything else the matter? . |
asked. lie now lifted up the left
hind foot, which was still shod. | was
quite at loss to understand him, and
remained silent. lie looked back al
me out of the corner Of his eye, and
evidently saw that | was puzzled,
whereupon he sat down his foot and
seemed to think. Almost immediate
ly he lifted it up, and shook it vigor>
ouSly. The loose shoe ratified. There
was positive process of reasoning in
this act, and it is too simple and clear
to be interpreted in any other way -
Attantjc Monthly.