110 THE HOKSE AND HIS EIDER. 



tended it may be) nothing can be more cruel to a faithful 

 animal that has all his life been accustomed to such 

 artificial luxuries, than to turn or ostracise him into a 

 park so soon as his age and infirmities require for him 

 if possible still greater comforts. 



It would be thought harsh, ungenerous, and unjust, 

 were a nobleman to reward his old worn out butler, 

 and bent, decrepit, toothless housekeeper, by consigning 

 them both for the winter of their lives to the parish 

 workhouse, where, at no cost to themselves, they would 

 receive lodging, firing, food, and raiment ; but if, with- 

 out a shilling in their pockets, and without a rag on 

 their backs, his Lordship were to turn the poor old couple 

 adrift in the back- woods of North America, he would 

 confer upon them, in return for their services, exactly 

 the same sort of reward which is conferred upon an 

 old worn out horse when, suddenly deprived of the oats, 

 beans, hay, bed, clothing, warm stable, and companions 

 he has been accustomed to, he is all of a sudden, as a 

 reward in full for all the work he has performed, " turned 

 out for the rest of his life." 



The extraordinary attachment of a horse to his stable, 

 especially if it contains many comrades, may be exem- 

 plified by the following anecdote : 



Some years ago a brown thorough-bred mare became 

 gradually afliicted by a spavin on each hind leg, which, 



