PREFACE. 



5 



lects ever to have seen him appear to feel the injury, 

 pout over his scanty allovv^ance, or discover hatred 

 towards his cruel master? View his gentleness and 

 kindness to a sot, who has indulged too long over his 

 glass, often bending, turning and yielding to his giddy 

 head ; and finally, when he is prostrated in the dust, 

 now often does the sagacious animal, when compelled 

 to tread on him, bear lightly and tenderly ; and when 

 loose, appear unwilling to leave the helpless drunkard ; 

 how often on his back are we conveyed in safety 

 at night amidst difficulties, dangers, and unfamiliar 

 roads ? And where is the traveller that does not re- 

 collect that when returning on his journey, and in 

 search of his home, when a road before unnoticed, 

 had bewildered and stopped his progress, how readily 

 and how faithfully has the horse thrown his ears to- 

 wards the right road, and with quickening steps dis- 

 covered his eagerness to reach his home ? See him in 

 the race, resolute, eager, and delighted, swelling every 

 vein, and exerting every muscle and fibre to win the 

 prize. Behold him in the field of battle, furious, in- 

 trepid, and full of fire, forgetful of danger, rushing on 

 the point of the bayonet, delighting in the glittering 

 of arms, and panting for victory. View him in the 

 civil and more happy circles of domestic life, in the 

 service of the rich, the liberal, and the happy, proudly 

 and smoothly rolling behind him the rattling chariot 

 wheels, wdth an aspect lively, gay, and cheerful. If 

 to an animal like this, I can be the cause of adding to 

 his comfort, improving his condition, making him fat, 

 relieving his pain, removing disease, and sometimes 

 save life, I shall feel as if I had rendered a service to 

 the community at large, and performed a part of the 

 task assigned me. 



