KINDNESS. 5 



like a child, for all his little wants and simple pleasures. 

 He should come cantering up from the farthest corner of 

 the paddock when he hears your voice, should ask to 

 have his nose rubbed, his head stroked, his^neck patted, 

 with those honest, pleading looks which make the con- 

 fidence of a dumb creature so touching ; and before a 

 roller has been put on his back, or a snaffle in his mouth 

 he should be convinced that everything you do to him 

 is right, and that it is impossible for you, his best 

 friend, to cause him the least uneasiness or harm. 



I once owned a mare that would push her nose into 

 my pockets in search of bread and sugar, would lick my 

 face and hands like a dog, or suffer me to cling to any 

 part of her limbs and body while she stood perfectly 

 motionless. On one occasion, when I hung in the 

 stirrup after a fall, she never stirred on rising, till by a 

 succession of laborious and ludicrous efforts I could 

 swing myself back into the saddle, with my foot still 

 fast, though hounds were running hard and she loved 

 hunting dearly in her heart. As a friend remarked at 

 the time, " The little mare seems very fond of you, or 

 there might have been a bother ! " 



Now this affection was but the result of petting, 

 sugar, kind and encouraging words, particularly at her 

 fences, and a rigid abstinence from abuse of the bridle 



