Sentence:  The country people frequently ſay,—How can you treat a poor <WSD>dumb</WSD> beaſt ill; and a ſtreſs is very properly laid on the word <WSD>dumb</WSD>; for <WSD>dumb</WSD> they appear to thoſe who do not obſerve their looks and geſtures; but God, who takes care of every thing, underſtands their language... 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Silent; unaccompanied by words.