168 FRIENDSHIP OF A HORSE AND DOG. 



LETTER XXL 



FROM EMILY TO CAROLINE. 



DEAR CAROLINE, 



One of my favourite amusements is riding on 

 horseback : I have a white pony that carries me most 

 agreeably, and is so tractable that I am not under the 

 least apprehension when I am upon him. As I have 

 had him for these two years, I am much attached to 

 him ; but I shall love him better than ever, since I 

 find that he is capable of fiiendship ; and, what is a still 

 rarer quality, does not shrink from defending his 

 friend in the hour of danger. My horse is grown ex- 

 tremely fond of a little dog that lives with him in the 

 same stable ; and whenever I ride, the dog runs along 

 by the side of my pony. It happened yesterday, as 

 the groom was leading the pony out for exercise, that 

 they met a much larger dog, who very violently at- 

 tacked the diminutive stranger ; upon which my horse 

 rose on his hind legs, and, to the astonishment of the 

 groom, so effectually fought his friend's battle with his 

 fore feet, that the aggressor scampered off in a cowardly 

 manner, without any further attempt to renew the 



