THE COUNTRY HOME [chapter 



when you lead out horses to drink, they spend a 

 great deal of time looking around. A few swal- 

 lows, and then a long look over the landscape — 

 they like it right well. They hear everything going 

 on, and see as much as we do, in my opinion. 

 Horses, sir, are not stupid creatures; they are very 

 observing, and enjoy landscapes and pleasant sur- 

 roundings as much as they do the green grass; 

 that, sir, is as I look at it. Now if you have nine 

 horses to lead out to water, and each one takes up 

 twenty minutes, it uses up about three hours time 

 — half of an afternoon. I can't afford it, so I built 

 this house over the water, and the animals drink 

 right along, and get through with it. It takes about 

 half an hour to satisfy the whole of them. Merely 

 a question of farm economy, sir. Sentiment is a 

 good thing, if it doesn't cost too much. I presume 

 that as you keep only one horse, you get on very 

 well with a tank uncovered." I had noticed the 

 same habit with my Morgan mare, but had at- 

 tributed it to the rare intelligence and the really 

 poetic instinct of that breed of horses; they are al- 

 most human. But I am inclined to think that all 

 animals love the beautiful. Following an opposite 

 track from my neighbor, I would provide for this 



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