THE HORSE. 63 



master, or the groom that dresses him. The reason is, 

 because they treat their horses with great lenity. I 

 myself saw, when I was in Pontus, how indulgent the 

 countrymen were to young colts, and how kindly they 

 used them. They would stroke them, bring them into 

 their houses, and almost to their tables, and use them 

 even like children. The grooms that dress them are as 

 indulgent as their masters ; they frequently sleek them 

 down with their hands, and never use a cudgel but in 

 cases of necessity. This makes their horses great lovers 

 of mankind ; and they are so far from kicking, wincing, 

 or growing untractable by this gentle usage, that you 

 will hardly find a masterless horse among them." The 

 treatment of the Turkish post-horses at the present day, 

 however, is very inhuman. 



We know, too, who hath said, " A righteous man re- 

 gardeth the life of his beast ;" and again, " He shall have 

 judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy." 

 Inferior creatures should therefore be constantly treated 

 with kindness. " I would not keep a horse," said an 

 excellent man, " that did not love me ; " and well 

 he might, for he daily cared for the inmates of his 

 stables, in remembrance of Him to whose goodness he 

 felt himself constantly indebted. 



