THE HORSE. ]9 



The fearful sight he scorns, and trembles not, 



Nor from the sword doth he draw back. 



Above him rattle the quiver, the gUttering spear, and arrow. 



Under him trembles the earth ; yet he hardly touches it. 



He doubts if it be the sound of the trumpet he hears, 



But when it becomes more distinct, then he exults, 



And from afar, pants for the battle, 



The word of command, and the war-cry." 



And then as to his gallantry ; where, in all nature, does she exhibit such a magnifi- 

 cent display of that conservative passion, by which alone the Great Jehovah has 

 secured the perpetuity of all his creatures, as in the high-formed, pampered stallion, 

 under the impulse of amatory anticipations ! — affording in this resistless necessity of 

 animal organization, proof that should dispel, even in a land of Atheists, all doubt of 

 an overruling design or Providence, 



" Whose work is without labour ; whose designs 

 No flaw deforms, no difficulty thwarts ; 

 And whose beneficence no charge exhausts." 



It may be the force of early association, hut we apprehend it is almost indispensable 

 to have been bom and " raised in the country" to estimate fully the attachment which 

 can there alone grow up in all its power, between a i. an and his horse ! What con- 

 queror, " from Macedonia's madman to the Swede," so proud as the boy and his horse 

 ' Button" or " Bright-Eye," that can beat all competitors in a quarter-race ! Alex- 

 ander was a fool, and Bucephalus a garron, compared to these two great characters, in 

 playtime at a country school. " Haud experientia loquor .'" 



To the valetudinarian, how delightful to escape from his sick room, and once mora 

 throw himself in his saddle, to ride abroad and snuff the fresh air of the morning ; or 

 no less to one in the manly vigour of health, to mount his sure-footed, high-mettled 

 &teed, and go hounding, at three-quarter speed, 



" Over the hills and far away," 

 under the reckless excitement of the chase, or sometimes even solitary and alone, yet 

 most agreeably exhilarated by that cheerful turn of thought educed by rapid horseback 

 motion, in the bracing air of the country I He, at least, must have felt these sensa- 

 tions, who described them so happily and with so much enthusiasm, in the old Ameri- 

 can Turf Register and Sporting Magazine; a work since much improved, and now 

 conducted with rare taste and elegance by W. T. Porter, of New York. 



In strong fear of reproach for departing from the strict line of utility laid down for 

 our observance, we cannot forbear to appropriate space enough here to multiply copies 

 of this beautiful tribute 



"TO MY HORSE." 



With a glancing eye and curving mane, 

 He neighs and champs on the bridle-rein ; 

 One spring, and his saddled back I press. 

 And ours is a common happiness ! 

 'Tis the rapture of motion ! a hurrying cloud 

 When the loosened winds are breathing loud : — 

 A shaft from the painted Indian's bow — 

 A bird — in the pride of speed we go. 



Dark thoughts that haunt me, where are ye now ? 

 While the cleft air gratefully cools my brow, 

 And the dizzy earth seems reeling liy. 

 And nought is at rest, but the arching sky : 

 And the tramp of my steed, so g%vift and strong. 

 Is dearer than fame and sweeter tlian song ? 



There is life in the breeze as we hasten on ; 

 With each bound some care of earth has gone. 

 And the languid pulse begins to play, 

 And the night of my soul is turned to day , 

 A richer verdure the earth o'erspreads. 

 Sparkles the streamlet more bright in the meads, 



