London. Published by W. Darton Junʳ. Oct. 5, 1815.
“Why, grandpapa,” replied Charles, “Robert had just come home with the pony, and left him at the gate; and I wanted to ride; so I got upon him, and he ran away with me.”
Mr. Mansfield. As you have never been used to ride, my dear Charles, you had better not get upon strange horses when you are alone. I wonder too that Plover should run away; he is in general very gentle.
Charles. At first he would keep his head over the gate, and I could not get him to move. So I hit him with a stick I had in my hand, and that set him off in a gallop.
Mr. Mansfield. I fancy all was owing to your want of skill; for Plover is a very quiet creature, and easily managed; but he will not bear ill usage; therefore, if you beat him much, I am not surprised at the accident.
Arthur. I am sure, grandpapa, Charles did not mean to be cruel, and use the horse ill.
Mr. Mansfield. He is so good a boy that I do not suspect him of it; and I only meant to give him a caution against another time. No, my dear children, I hope you will never take pleasure in wanton cruelty. My heart has often ached at the barbarities I have seen practised on poor dumb creatures.
Arthur. Once when I was walking with papa, we saw a man beating a horse about the head with the butt end of his whip, and my papa advised him not to do so; but he said it was his own horse, and he had a right to do as he liked.
Mr. Mansfield. Nothing can give a man a right to be cruel. We may, it is true, make what use we please of our beasts, as long as we treat them well, for they were made for our convenience; but God Almighty has given to them life and feeling the same as he has to us; and we make him angry with us whenever we use them ill.
“I often think, grandpapa, that it is very strange such large creatures as these,” said Arthur, patting Plover, who now walked quietly by the side of his master, “should suffer us to get upon their backs, and manage them as we please. They are much stronger than we are; and I wonder they do not drive us away, and not carry us, and refuse to draw our coaches and do every thing we like.”