124 LADIES ON HORSEBACK. 



^* vices " by heartless and ignorant grooms. 

 Nervousness is called bad temper, and timidity- 

 regarded as a punishable offence. All the 

 horrors of the modern stable are brought to 

 bear upon the priceless creature who is born 

 to freedom, and whose fettered limbs he is 

 scarce permitted to stretch. A rack of dry, 

 and oftentimes vitiated hay is placed ahove the 

 head which was created to stoop to gather 

 the juicy grasses of the earth. A measure of 

 hard dry corn, or a bucket of water, is period- 

 ically brought and thrust before the prisoner, 

 who eats and drinks for mere pastime, often 

 without appetite, and whose frequent rejec- 

 tion of the offered dainties is regarded as 

 *' sulkiness " or "vice." The whole system 

 of modern stable management is lamentably 

 at fault. I cannot hope to remedy it. I 

 cannot persuade obstinate humanity that the 

 expenditure of a few shillings will turn in as 

 many pounds : that by the bestowal of proper 

 care, proper housing, light, and exercise, and 

 proper clothing, food, and drink, the slave 

 will repay by longer life and more active 

 service the care and kindness which Chris- 



