THE HEDGEHOG, 



of this most harmless 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 conducive 

 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 

 no sooner becomes the property of man in the 

 lower walks of life, than he commonly has his ears 

 shorn off; his knees are broken, his wind is broken, 



his body is starved, and his eyes ! ! I fear, in 



these grades of society, mercy is only known by 

 the name of cowardice, and compassion designated 

 simplicity and effeminacy ; and so we become cruel, 

 and consider it as valiance and manliness. Cruelty 

 is a vice repeatedly marked in Scripture as repug- 

 nant to the primest attributes of our Maker, 

 " because he delighteth in mercy." One of the 

 three requisites necessary for man to obtain the 

 favour of Heaven, and which was of more avail 

 than sacrifice and oblation, was that of <e showing 



