The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



too heavy for him ; think of the bodily weakness 

 braced up in that poor small body by a most 

 magnificent courage ; striving to pull and to 

 keep on pulling — till he falls. The curves and 

 play of the muscles of the mouth of a horse, 

 pulhng his best, tell of the courage and great 

 soul that is in him. Wounded, in pain, suffer- 

 ing hunger and thirst, waiting for the end, 

 there can be no more pathetic picture of hard- 

 ships borne unflinchingly with patience and 

 perfect dignity. All horses are fit for heaven ; 

 but only a few men. 



Few can get close enough to the mind and 

 soul of a horse to appreciate to the full how 

 noble and beautiful is his character. To 

 possess the whole-souled affection and love of 

 a horse, and many are capable of the greatest 

 affection, is an exquisitely perfect experience. 

 To have the power of attracting such affection, 

 and to know how to reciprocate it, is privilege 

 and pleasure beyond all price. 



87 



