360 APPENDIX. 



been dedicated to the " Society for the Preven- 

 tion of Cruelty to Animals," and was also meant 

 to serve as one of a set of cheap embellishments 

 for the walls of cottages. The history of the old 

 horse "waiting for death" is subjoined.* 



WAITING FOR DEATH. 



IN the morning of his days he was handsome, 

 sleek as a raven, sprightly and spirited, and was 

 then much caressed and happy. When he grew to 

 perfection, in his performances, even on the turf, 

 and afterwards in the chase, and in the field, he was 

 equalled by few of his kind. At one time of his life 

 he saved that of his master, whom he bore, in safety, 

 across the rapid flood ; but having, in climbing the 

 opposite rocky shore, received a blemish, it was 

 thought prudent to dispose of him ; after which he 

 fell into the hands of different masters, but from 

 none of them did he ever eat the bread of idleness ; 

 and, as he grew in years, his cup of misery was still 

 augmented with bitterness. 



It was once his hard lot to fall into the hands of 

 Skinflint, a horse-keeper, an authorised wholesale 

 and retail dealer in cruelty, who employed him 

 alternately, but closely, as a hack, both in the 

 chaise and for the saddle ; for when the traces 

 and trappings, used in the former, had peeled the 

 skin from off his breast, shoulders, and sides, he 



* The vignette at page 5, vol. i., last edition of the "History of 

 British Birds," [1847] will be found printed with two additional blocks 

 as a title page to the second edition of the "Quadrupeds," quarto, 

 without letterpress, 1824. [See vol. i., p. 5, of this edition for the 

 first vignette mentioned by Miss Bewick.] 



