HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 223 



became almost entirely worthless ; and solely, as he believes, 

 owing to the unsoundness of the dam. But neither constitu- 

 tion nor blood, in the parents, will avail to entire success, unless 

 proper attention is paid to the offspring. There is often mis- 

 management as gross here, as that mentioned above. 



The horse is naturally a more delicate animal than the cow 

 or ox, and requires better food and shelter to make him equally 

 comfortable. But how seldom does he get it, in his younger 

 years, when he most needs it. If the practice were not cruel, 

 it would be amusing, to witness the course pursued by some 

 people, in order to produce what they call a tough horse. They 

 will be careful, in the first place, that he does not run with the 

 mother too long, for fear, perhaps, that if he is not taken off 

 young, he will never learn how to eat. During the winter, 

 they will see that he is exposed to a good number of storms, 

 together with winter winds sufficient to give him strength of 

 constitution. Or, if he should be favored with a stable, it is 

 never cleaned, and he is obliged to stand with his heels as high 

 as his head, lest he should get the ring-bone ; and a card or a 

 currycomb is on no account to be used upon him, lest it should 

 make his skin tender. With regard to food, their practice cor- 

 responds wonderfully with the prescription of an eminent phy- 

 sician, formerly well known in this town, to dyspeptics. Said 

 he, " You should take a very light breakfast, not much dinner, 

 and no supper." If, as a natural consequence, this poor Oliver 

 Twist of the brute creation becomes poor and infested with 

 vermin, and some one should suggest the propriety of more 

 nourishing food, he would be met with the reply, that it would 

 never do, — that if you began to feed well, you will have to 

 continue the practice. If a colt lives through all this, it is 

 granted that he is tough ; but whether he will last as long, or 

 perform as well, as if well fed, seems more than doubtful. The 

 probability is, that, at the age of four years, he will exhibit the 

 tameness of spirit, and jaded appearance, of a drudge of fifteen. 

 As a breed combining, in a remarkable degree, the qualities 

 desirable in a horse for general use, the Morgans stand high in 

 the popular estimation. Their lofty and elegant action, their 

 activity, hardiness, gentleness, and docility, and their adapted- 



