FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE ROYAL
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
OFFICES, 12, PALL MALL.

TO THE
KEEPERS AND DRIVERS OF
DONKEYS.

If ever you look into your Bible, you must have observed
the frequency with which, of all animals, mention is
made of the Ass; and that, not with indignity, but
always with distinguished honour.

The Ass is either, in great numbers, counted among
the wealth of a patriarch, or he is recorded as carrying
a prophet, or his cause is vindicated by the Almighty
in a remarkable manner. Have you ever read the history
of the Prophet Balaam and his Ass, in the 22nd chapter
of the Book of Numbers; how upon the Prophet's cruel
usage of him, it pleased God to cause an angel to stand
before him, and reproach him with having three times
beaten his Ass without a cause? This history makes it
quite clear, that God sees and marks every action of our
lives, and that what appears mean and insignificant in
our eyes, may by no means be so in his estimation.

If you should be inclined to answer "Why, then,
does He not interfere now?" the reason is, that having
done so once, and caused it to be recorded in Scripture,
He expects it to be as much attended to by all who read
or hear it, as if it had happened to themselves, in like

manner as many other important lessons are taught us
in the Bible.

But the greatest distinction conferred upon the Ass is,
his having been selected by the Saviour of the World to
carry him on his triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
The fact is recorded, Matt. xxi. 1—7 :—

"Then sent Jesus two of his disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her : loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and set him thereon."

If the common feelings of humanity are not sufficient
to prevent man from treating the Ass with unnecessary
severity, one would think that this remarkable distinction
alone would arrest his uplifted arm. But alas! no;
the very reverse is the case; for of all animals domes-
ticated by man, there is not one for which so many
blows and indignities are reserved as for the Ass. Any
sort of usage, and any kind of food, are considered
good enough for him.

In conclusion, I would impress upon the mind of the
person who has the patience to read this paper, and the
disposition to attend to it, that there is not an unne-
cessary blow or act of cruelty he inflicts, or causes to be
inflicted, on the animal under his care, for which, if the
above history of Balaam and his Ass be true—that is, if
the Bible be true, he may not, as suddenly as he was,
be called to give an account. An angel may not be
sent to punish cruelty upon the spot, but when the
Almighty has a cause to vindicate, he has means not
less awful to effect his purpose.

Published by the ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS," at their Offices, No. 12, PALL, MALL, where
Subscriptions and Donations will be thankfully received and where Tracts
on Humanity to Animals can be obtained. Office hours, from 10 till
4 o'clock.

Beckett, Printer, Kingsland Road.