Lady Lee 31 



1 Hold on to her, stranger ! ' the man called out, 

 when he had approached within a few rods ; but at 

 the sound of his voice the little filly started ner- 

 vously, and bounded away at a pace it was useless 

 for him to attempt to follow. 



4 Consarn her ! ' said the man, as he came up to 

 us, his face flushed and every feature showing anger. 

 4 That infernal brute gives me more trouble than 

 all my other hosses together.' 



' In what way ? ' I inquired. 



1 Why, in runnin' away,' he replied. 4 1 hain't 

 got a fence on the place that '11 keep her in.' 



c And so you beat her with a fence-rail, to try 

 to coax her to stay with you, do you ? Have you 

 ever thought that it might be your cruelty that 

 drives her away from home ? ' 



' If she do n't behave she 's got to be licked, 

 hain't she ? " Spare the rod an' spile the child." 

 That 's Bible doctrine for children, an' I reckon it '11 

 hold good for animals.' 



4 Yes, and I think the Almighty will put it 

 into practice sometime, and that you will be the 

 animal.' 



