THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



proportioned animals, but there was a really 

 good percheron stallion within available dis- 

 tance, and our draught colts were even more 

 remunerative than our roadsters. 



Three driving mares were bought, as op- 

 portunity afforded. The first and last proved 

 good investments, but the second disappointed 

 us once, and the next time gave us much anx- 

 iety, and eventually died, leaving a tiny, weak 

 colt, which only weighed forty pounds. Sensible 

 people would have dispatched it with its un- 

 fortunate mother, but " us fond fools " fought 

 for the poor little life as if the universe de- 

 pended upon its survival. It was kept wrapped 

 in a blanket, and fed from a bottle for several 

 days. Then a goat gave birth to a kid which 

 died, and, as a sort of desperate chance, we 

 carried the colt into her stall. She was a quiet 

 old thing, who let us fuss about her, milking 

 a little, and then coaxing the colt to help it- 

 self. For some time the task proved hopeless, 

 but Sidney persevered until, eventually, the 



poor, half -dead mite seemed to comprehend 



206 



