Perhaps many of you do not know what I mean. Well, let us close this Chat by explaining:
It is the custom among racing stables in England to have some little pet kept in the box stalls with the horses. These highly-bred horses are very sensitive and timid. They have been accustomed to always have around them and in their stalls, when sleeping, boys and pets. Fox terriers and other small dogs of a sporty nature are generally found sleeping with the horses, sometimes on the horses’ backs, or if it is cold, between their legs. Take away for a night one of these pets and the sensitive horses will not sleep, lose their appetite and generally get out of form.
Now a few years ago there was a famous horse being made ready to win one of England’s big races. He had for a box-stall companion a billy goat. The goat and horse had been together since both were youngsters. It was well known that the horse was uncontrollable, would neither eat nor sleep, if the goat was away from the stall. So some mean man who wanted the horse to lose the race, made the stable boy drunk and then took away the goat.
All night that poor horse stamped and whinnied for his goat. In the morning he was a nervous wreck and would not touch his food. Nevertheless, he was sent to the race and, of course, lost it because he had “lost his goat.” Another fellow “had his goat.”
So you see what I meant by using this slang of the day. The fakers first get your goat—your WILL and COURAGE—then you are bound to lose the race of Life.
Keep your goat by and in you always.
[CHAPTER VII]
YOUR VOCATION AND HOW TO FIT YOURSELF FOR IT
You will now see that a perfectly-balanced and well-cared-for body is necessary to produce a clear-thinking brain; that it is impossible to bring out the best in you unless you have the best of tools with which to work. No machinist would think of trying to do good work with dull, rusty or weak tools, and the most valuable tools of all are those which we are endowed with—hands and brains.