WE TAKE POSSESSION 37 
roans broke his stifle during the following win- 
ter and had to be shot. The bereaved relicts of 
these two pairs have taken kindly to each other, 
and now walk soberly side by side in double 
harness. I sometimes think, however, that I see 
a difference. The personal relation is not just 
as it was in the old union,—no bickerings or 
disagreements, but also no jokes and no caresses. 
The soft nose doesn’t seek its neighbor’s neck, 
there is no resting of chin on friendly withers 
while half-closed eyes see visions of cool shades, 
running brooks, and knee-deep clover; and the 
urgent whinney which called one to the other 
and told of loneliness when separated is no longer 
heard. It is pathetic to think that these good 
creatures have been robbed of the one thing 
which gave color to their lives and lifted them 
above the dreary treadmill of duty for duty’s 
sake. The kindly friendship of each for his 
yoke-fellow is not the old sympathetic compan- 
ionship, which will come again only when the 
cooling breezes, running brooks, and knee-deep 
pastures of the good horse’s heaven are reached. 
A horse is wonderfully sensitive for an animal 
of his size and strength. He is timid by nature 
and his courage comes only from his confidence 
in man. His speed, strength, and endurance he 
will willingly give, and give it to the utmost, if 
the hand that guides is strong and gentle, and 
the voice that controls is firm, confident, and 
friendly. Lack of courage in the master takes 
