THE MULE.
THE MULE.
The common Mule sometimes lives to the age of thirty years. It is very useful in carrying burdens, particularly in very mountainous places, where horses are not so sure-footed. People of the first quality in Spain are drawn by Mules. Their going down the mountains of the Alps is very wonderful. They place their fore feet as if they were stopping themselves; they then put their hinder feet together, but a little forward, as if they were about to lie down. In this way, having taken a look over the road, they slide down with great swiftness. In the mean time, all the rider has to do is, to keep himself fast on the saddle without checking the rein; for the least motion is sufficient to disorder the equal balance of the animal, in which case both would certainly be dashed to pieces. In their swiftest motion, when they seem to have lost all government of themselves, they follow exactly the different windings of the road, as if they had settled in their minds which way they were to go.
THE ASS.
The Ass has to endure the hardest labour, and is contented with the coarsest food. The statement that Asses are stubborn animals is not true, it arises from ill usage, and not from any defect in their temper.
THE ASS.
An old man, who a few years ago sold vegetables in London, used in his employment an Ass, which conveyed his baskets from door to door. He frequently gave the poor creature a handful of hay, or a piece of coarse bread, or some greens, by way of refreshment and reward. The old man had no need of any stick for the animal, indeed he seldom had to lift up his hand to drive it on. This kind treatment being one day observed, he was asked whether his beast was not apt to be stubborn. “Ah! master (he replied), it is of no use to be cruel; and as for stubbornness I cannot complain, for he is ready to do any thing, and to go any where. I bred him myself. He is sometimes skittish and playful, and once ran away from me; there were then more than fifty people after him, attempting in vain to stop him, yet after all he turned back of his own accord, and never stopped till he ran his head kindly into my bosom.”