364 OUR HUMBLE HELPERS 



peaceful ass. On nearly every page of Genesis the 

 ass is mentioned; the horse does not appear there 

 until Joseph's time." 



"The ancient origin of the ass could not have 

 nobler credentials/' said Jules. 



"Why then, asks Buff on, such scorn for the ass, so 

 good, patient, sober, useful! Should men scorn, 

 even among animals, those that serve them well and 

 at so little expense? We educate the horse, take 

 care of it, teach it, train it; while the ass, left to the 

 rough handling of the lowest servants or to the mis- 

 chievous pranks of children, far from improving in 

 quality, can only deteriorate. If it were not funda- 

 mentally of excellent character, it would lose all its 

 virtues from the way in which it is treated. It is the 

 laughing-stock and the drudge of boors who beat it, 

 overload it, and wear it out without consideration." 



"Oh, how many of these poor donkeys I have 

 seen," Jules exclaimed, "overwhelmed with their 

 loads and beaten unmercifully because they hadn't 

 strength enough to go on ! " 



"What can become of the poor animal thus de- 

 graded by bad treatment? An intractable, brutal- 

 ized, bald-headed, mangy, weakened creature, object 

 of pity for any one who has not a heart harder than 

 stone. But let us consider the ass as the Orientals 

 know how to raise it in all the comfort and content 

 of careful home treatment. We shall find an ani- 

 mal of fine appearance, gentle looks, glossy coat, 

 distinguished and spirited bearing, trotting briskly 

 along the streets of the large towns, where it is ha- 



