278 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



fortable stables, and of warm blankets at the proper tinae, 

 practically improve that knowledge in the habitual manage- 

 ment and keeping of their stock. Such exeniplify the Scrip- 

 tural proverb that " a merciful man is merciful to his beast," 

 and are repaid thrice over, in a pecuniary point of view alone, 

 for their humanity. 



But, to the shame of our race, this class does not embrace 

 all horse owners. Let us put a case, such as has its counter- 

 part every winter in nearly every neighborhood in our land. 

 The horse is forced to his utmost speed through mud and 

 water, storm and sleet, that his master may the sooner reach 

 home, there to exchange the pelting storm and piercing blast 

 for a comfortable room, a blazing fire, and a downy bed. 

 The horse, however, is either put into a cold, open stable, or 

 is turned into the yard, where the mud is knee-deep. His 

 blood is boiling from the severity with which he has been 

 driven; the snow and sleet melt upon his back; freezing 

 winds chill his whole frame, and, through all the dreary 

 night, he stands out in the weather, shivering and shaking 

 with cold. Next morning he is found on the sheltered side 

 of a straw stack, or in some fence-corner — his body drawn 

 up almost in a heap, his hind and fore-feet almost together, 

 his ears half drawn back, and his whole appearance the very 

 picture of misery. As the thoughtless master, (for let us be 

 charitable, and suppose his cruelty is not really intentional,) 

 at a late hour, makes his appearance with the morning feed, 

 the plaintive whicker, the dull eye brightening a little, with 

 evident effort, and the stiffened, tired limbs well-nigh refusing 

 obedience to the will, show too plainly the mischief that has 

 been done : the horse has taken cold. How could he help it? 



But the weather moderates, the warm sun shines out, and 

 the horse appears as well, or nearly so, as ever. Time passes, 

 and that dreadful night is forgotten by the owner, who never 

 once has thought of connecting with it the idea of any in- 

 jury to his horse. After a time, however — a week, a fort- 

 night, or a month — we hear the somewhat alarmed remark, 

 "I wonder what has given my horse such a cough?" Or, 



