A visit to a farm house; or, An introduction to various subjects connected with rural economy. / Seventh edition, revised and corrected.

by active 1801-1820? S. W.

Mr. Mansfield. It would be astonishing, Arthur, if we did not consider that our reason gives us a great advantage over all brutes. Some of them, it is true, are much larger, some much stronger, and others much swifter than we; but by means of our understanding we can conquer the strongest, and tame the fiercest of them.

Charles. How can we tame them, pray, sir?

Mr. Mansfield. By methods which they cannot resist. Plover is stronger than you, but a boy of your size who understands riding would be able to manage him. He would pull the bridle on this side, or on that, according as he wished him to turn; and as he pulled, the bit would hurt the horse’s mouth just enough to make him willing to go where he was wanted: therefore, by our knowing how to manage a bit and a bridle, we are more than a match for a horse in spite of his great strength.

Arthur. I understand you now, grandpapa. And I have something to tell you. As we were taking a walk a little while ago, a dog came barking and snapping, and I thought he was going to bite me; but my mamma called out, “Don’t be frightened, Arthur; pick up a stone to throw at the dog, and it will send him away.” So I did, and to be sure he slunk off at once. Now was not it my reason that made me conquer the dog, though the dog could bite harder than myself?

Mr. Mansfield. Exactly so. You see, then, that although our bodies are naturally weak and helpless, yet by our reason we are furnished with the means of strength and defence. So God has ordained; and therefore, though he will not suffer us to be cruel to any of his creatures, yet, as our Bible tells us, he said at the beginning of the world, that the fear and dread of man should be for ever upon all animals.

As Mr. Mansfield finished these words, they reached the stable yard, and Ralph came forward to unharness the pony.

“Plover must be shod to-morrow, sir,” said he, as he looked at one of his hinder feet.

“Is not it cruel, grandpapa,” asked Charles, “to drive nails into the horse’s feet?”

Mr. Mansfield. No, my dear, it is not. The nails only go into the hoofs, which are very hard, and have not any feeling; but if we did not put on these iron shoes, the hoofs, hard as they are, would soon be battered to pieces when they travel over rough and gravelled ground.