"No wonder, sir, the poor thing could not draw this heavy load, with such an affliction as that," the doctor said, almost angrily.
"It wasn't so bad this mornin'," the man answered, "and anyway that ain't much of a sore to use a mule up."
"A mule, my man, has just as much feeling as you or I. If you think you would be willing to pull right along, enduring the torture he is enduring, then there is some excuse for you working him, but, if you don't, then there is not. God made these creatures to serve us, but he made us intending we should be just and kind to them."
Then he took a silk handkerchief from his pocket, folded and put it over the bruise under the collar.
"Now," said he, "a few of us will push until we get this load well started, and you may take it a little way, wherever you can leave it, and then you must promise not to use the mule again until his shoulder is thoroughly healed, and to pad and fix that collar and harness."
"See here, now, Mr. Whoever-you-be, this yer mule is mine, and I don't have to promise no stranger nothin'."
"Oh, well, if that is your game, all right. I meant to be easy with you, but, if you prefer, I will have you arrested and fined at once."
"Fined! great blazes, ain't that mule my own, and hain't I a right to cut him into sarsage if I want to?"
The crowd (part of it) laughed, but the rest watched Master earnestly.
"Maybe you have not heard, my good fellow, that there exists in this city to-day a society for the prevention of such abuses as this; and that it has power from the State to arrest, try and fine you for the deeds you have just committed. In the first place, you used the animal when he was unfit for service, and, in the second place, you kicked and pounded him. Unless you promise the two things I mentioned, and this one added, that you will be kind and humane in your treatment hereafter, I will complain of you at once."