136 THE HEDGEHOG. 



nately destroyed as venomous animals whenever 

 found ; and it is well for the last-mentioned poor 

 animal, which, Boyle says, " lives on poison, and 

 is all venom," if prolonged sufferings do not finish 

 ite being : but even we, who should know better, 

 yet give rewards for the wretched urchin's head ! 

 that very ancient prejudice of its drawing milk 

 from the udders of resting cows being still enter- 

 tained, without any consideration of its impracti- 

 cability from the smallness of the hedgehog's 

 mouth ; and so deeply is this character associated 

 with its name, that we believe no argument would 

 persuade to the contrary, or remonstrance avail with 

 our idle boys, to spare the life of this most harm- 

 less and least obtrusive creature in existence. 



If we were to detail the worst propensities of 

 man, disgusting as they might be, yet the one 

 most eminently offensive would be, cruelty a 

 compound of tyranny, ingratitude, and pride; 

 tyranny, because there is the power ingratitude, 

 for the most harmless and serviceable are usually 

 the object pride, to manifest a contempt of the 

 weakness of humanity. There is no one creature, 

 whose services Providence has assigned to man, 

 that contributes more to his wants, is more con- 

 ducive to his comforts, than the horse ; nor is there 

 one which is subjected to more afflictions than this 

 his faithful servant. The ass, probably, and happily 

 is not a very sensitive animal, but the poor horse 



