AGRICULTURE AND THE HORSE. 393 



hard work, and the injurious effects of a life of luxury 

 and ease, are about equally destructive to him ; and the 

 price he is obliged to pay for his intimacy with man, 

 and the care and attention he receives at his hands, 

 is the loss, in a large or a small degree, of the robust 

 health and elastic animal s^Dirits, and the abounding and 

 joyous and painless power of motion, with which Nature 

 endows him. A colt is a happy thing in the beginning, 

 — happier than a child: a horse is intended to be 

 a happy thing through life, — happier than a man. But 

 the folly and misfortune which sadden and weaken 

 the master bear heavily also upon his dumb and patient 

 servant. The two travel a hard road together, and 

 both are obliged to pay the penalty which should in 

 justice fall upon one. If this is one of the inevitable 

 consequences of the decree which gives man dominion 

 over the birds of the air and the beasts of the field, 

 I suppose man and animal must silently and patiently 

 submit and obey. But it may not be so. If, for the 

 gratification of ambition or pride, or for high service to 

 his race, or for immortal renown, man is willing to sub- 

 ordinate and sacrifice all his physical powers, and is 

 determined that his body shall obey the commands 

 of his imperious spirit, inspired and consumed in the 

 great flame, so must it be; but let him spare his 

 servant who obeys him, — his dumb beast who has 

 trusted in him. 



It is a good thing, sir, to remember that a horse has 

 certain natural faculties, without which he would not 



