294 HORSE AND MAN. 



of it are at work in the field for twelve or fifteen 

 hours daily throughout the week. The man is natu- 

 rally so wearied with the day's toil, that after the 

 work is over he is fit for nothing but to take his 

 supper and go to bed, where he instantly falls asleep, 

 and does not awake until it is time for his next day's 

 labour to commence. Even on Sundays he has to 

 look after his horses, so that he does not even get 

 the one day's rest in seven to which he is entitled. 



So it often happens that the man, not knowing 

 the distinction between the structure of the horse 

 and that of himself, supplies the animal on Saturday 

 night with enough food and water to last until 

 Monday morning, and then has the Sunday to him- 

 self. On the Monday, when he goes to the stable, 

 he finds the horse with one of its legs swollen beyond 

 all compass, and held off the ground ; all the water 

 gone, and the animal half mad with thirst. 



Even with the most careful attendance, many 

 days must pass before the horse is again fit for work. 

 We can hardly blame the man, who treats the horse 

 as he himself would like to be treated i.e. by being 

 supplied with plenty to eat and drink, and left to 

 undisturbed repose for the whole day. 



The man has acted in sheer ignorance, and so far 

 is free from blame. But why should he be ignorant 

 of so simple a matter ? The real fault lies with the 



