THE HEDGEHOG. 97 



repeatedly rolling itself round in its nest. Thus com- 

 fortably invested, it suffers little from the season. Some 

 strong smell must proceed from this animal, as we find 

 it frequently, with our sporting dogs, even in this state ; 

 and every village boy with his cur detects the haunts 

 of the poor hedgehog, and as assuredly worries and 

 kills him. Killing every thing, and -cruelty, are the 

 common vices of the ignorant; and unresisting inno- 

 cence becomes a ready victim to prejudice or power. 

 The snake, the blindworm, and the toad, are all indis- 

 criminately destroyed as venomous animals whenever 

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

 mal, which, Boyle says, " lives on poison, and is all 

 venom," if prolonged sufferings do not finish its being : 

 but even we, who should know better, yet give rewards 

 for the wretched urchin's head ! that very ancient pre- 

 judice of its drawing milk from the udders of resting 

 cows being still entertained, without any consideration 

 of its impracticability from the smallriess of the hedge- 

 hog's mouth ; and so deeply is this character associated 

 with its name, that we believe no argument would per- 

 suade to the contrary, or remonstrance avail with our 

 idle boys, to spare the life 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 6f tyranny, 

 ingratitude, and pride ; tyranny, because there is the 

 power ingratitude, for the mosr harmless and service- 

 able are usually the object pride, to manifest a con- 

 tempt 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 hig 

 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 



I 



