30 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



to be carried ofif by the numerous vagabonds who turn a dis- 

 honest penny by dog- stealing. His orders are, that he is not to go 

 into the road on any pretext whatever, and, as a necessary con- 

 sequence, he is always burning to do so. Therefore, I keep a 

 watch upon him, and as soon as he pushes his way under the 

 gate, he gets such a shower of swan-shot about his ears that he 

 yelps in sudden terror, and dives back again. On such occa- 

 sions he always comes up to me, as if to report himself, and I 

 always pat him and pretend to know nothing about his intended 

 escapade. 



It is through the neglect of this simple principle that so many 

 animals are made savage, or sulky, or stupid, by the clowns — 

 whether in fustian or broadcloth — ^who have the charge of them. 

 They lay down certain arbitrary rules of their own, neglect to 

 teach these rules to the poor animals, and then ill-treat them 

 because they break the laws which have never been taught to 

 them. Farm labourers are, as a body, continually committing 

 this error, and it is to their mingled ignorance and obstinacy 

 that the savage nature of so many animals is due. A horse, for 

 example, strays into some spot where he has no business, and is 

 immediately chased, and shouted at, and pelted with stones, 

 and struck with the first weapon that can be seized. Or he 

 turns his head to the right instead of the left, and straightway is 

 " chucked " by the bridle, and kicked, and anathematized with 

 that copious flow of foul language with which our unsophisti- 

 cated rural swains are so amply supplied. 



Now the horse does not in the least know why he is thus mal- 

 treated. He is unconscious of error, and can only attribute the 

 pain which he suffers to the arbitrary and inscrutable wiU of the 

 being whom he hates, but is mysteriously forced to obey. He 

 knows not that he has broken any law, or disobeyed any com- 

 mand, and, in consequence, wUl probably repeat the offence, and 

 so earn the character of an obstinate and disobedient beast. If 

 he be a horse of some spirit (and such an animal is always the 

 best servant when properly treated), he wiU resent the injustice 

 of which he is the victim, anS bring hoofs or teeth to bear upon 

 his tormentor, thus earning the character of a savage as well as 

 an obstinate brute. So it happens, that a fine animal, which 

 would have cheerfully laboured with all his vast strength in the 

 service of man, is prevented from assuming his rightful place as 



