Madeline Leslie

“ On one occasion, Cæsar lost hold of the reins, and as soon as the horse cleared the leap, he immediately trotted up to his canine friend, who took hold of the bridle, and led him back through the water quietly.”
“They loved each other,” cried Minnie, “just like Star and Nannie.”
[24] “Such attachments are not uncommon,” rejoined Mr. Lee.
“Many horses will not stay a moment in the stable by themselves, without discovering a great deal of impatience.
“Sometimes they try to break the manger with their fore feet. ”

“ But the owner having deceived the animal several times by holding out the measure when it had no corn in it, the animal at length began to suspect the design. Coming up one day as usual, he looked into the measure, and finding it empty, turned round, reared on his hind legs, and, striking with his fore feet, killed his master.”
[67] “That was indeed a fearful punishment for his deception,” returned Mrs. Lee. “It reminds me of an anecdote I read lately, of a horse belonging to an Irish nobleman, who became restive and furious whenever a certain individual came into its presence. ”

“ Please tell another story as good as that; can’t you?”
“When the Arab falls from his mare, and is unable to rise,” the gentleman went on, “she will stand by his side and neigh till assistance arrives. If he lies down to sleep in the midst of the desert, she stands watchful [154] over him,—her body being the only shield between him and the fierce rays of the sun,—and neighs to rouse him, if man or beast approaches during his slumbers.
“There was once an old Arab who had a valuable mare, that had carried him for fifteen years in many a hard-fought battle, and many a rapid, weary march. ”

“ I have heard much of the memory of the horse, and that is now my only hope.’
“He threw the reins on the horse’s neck, and encouraging him to proceed, found himself safe at the gate of his friend in less than an hour. What made it more remarkable was the fact, [98] that the animal could not possibly have been over the road, except on the occasion two years before, as no person but his master ever rode him.”
“You said you had another story of a Shetland pony, uncle Frank,” whispered Minnie. ”

“ On one occasion a pony leaped out of a stable door through which manure was thrown, after company which was in the barn yard. A cow, a goat, or [25] a pet lamb, will perfectly satisfy them.”
“A gentleman in Bristol had a greyhound which slept in the stable along with a fine hunter about five years of age. They soon became attached, and regarded each other with the most tender affection. Indeed, the horse was restless and unhappy when the dog was out of sight. ”

“ I have heard of a little farm boy, who was too small to mount the plough horses, he was required to ride, who taught one of them to put down its head to the ground, while he jumped astride on its neck, and then, by gently elevating the head, let him slip backward into his seat on its back.
[131] “The intelligent creature appeared perfectly to understand the wishes of the boy, and the use of lowering its head for the purpose of his mounting.
“Perhaps you can teach Star to pump his own water, as a gentleman in Leeds found his horse doing. ”

“ They are [141] gentle, patient, and attached to their rude and simple protectors. This, indeed, is greatly the effect of training; for the same animals, under the charge of Europeans, frequently manifest a vicious and indomitable temper. But the Arab treats his horse as a companion, never beats him, but cheers him with his voice, and only uses him with seeming cruelty in necessary demands on his physical powers.
[142] “In the desert, the mare of the Bedouin, and her foal, inhabit the same tent as himself and his children. She is the friend and playmate of the little household. ”

“ Shetland pony which had been in battle in 1745, whose age was forty-seven years.”
“No doubt there are such cases,” answered the gentleman, “but they are rare in this country. I suppose we give our horses too much to do.”
“Yes, that is it; and too little care. No animal so richly repays the attention bestowed upon him as the horse.” ”

“ The horse seemed to be as implicitly obedient to his friend Cæsar, as he could possibly be to his groom.
“The doctor would go to the [21] stable, accompanied by his dog, put the bridle on his horse, and giving the reins to Cæsar, bid him take the horse to the water. They both understood what was to be done, when off trotted Cæsar, followed by the hackney, which frisked, capered, and played with the dog all the way to the rivulet, about three hundred yards distant from the stable. He followed at a great distance, always keeping so far in the [22] rear as to observe their manœuvres. ”

“ The gentleman laughed as he assured her that mares who were [40] intelligent enough to make such a plan could easily manage that part. “Do you suppose,” he asked, “that your pony understands any thing you say to him more than the tones of your voice?”
“O, no, uncle!”
“And yet,” he said, “a true blood horse, when at liberty, when two or more persons are conversing, will approach and seem to listen to the conversa [41] tion. Even the common farm horse is quite obedient to the call of his own name, and will not stir, when desired to stand, until his own name is pronounced. ”

“ The dog was always kept in the stable at night, and universally lay beside the horse.
“When Dr. Smith practised in Dublin, he visited his patients [19] on horseback, and had no other servant to take care of his horse while in their houses but Cæsar, into whose mouth he put the reins. The hackney stood very quietly, even in that crowded city, beside his friend Cæsar. When it happened that the doctor had a patient not far distant from the place where he paid his last visit, he did not think it worth while to remount, but called to his horse and Cæsar [20] to follow him. ”

“ I have seldom found so good a listener. I have enjoyed the ride myself exceedingly. Come here, Minnie, and I will relate to you an amusing anecdote which I read a short time ago.
“In Persia, where they have splendid horses, all persons of the least distinction ride on horseback, and scarcely any one will deign to go the shortest distance on foot. The anecdote is [51] related by a celebrated pomologist, concerning a horse employed in his nurseries for over fifteen years. His name was Old Charley. I was so much interested in the account of his sagacity, that I went to see him. ”

“ I have been myself surprised in reading these accounts of their attachment to man, and to each other; their courage, faithfulness, and devotion to the interests of their owner; and I wish every man, woman, and child, who has any thing to do with these noble creatures, would study their history, so as to treat them with the [134] kindness and care they deserve. I have heard my husband say, that even in a wild state, all their movements are so intelligent, that it seems as if it must be the result of reason. ”

“ The captain was a celebrated rider, [76] not to be thrown by the most violent efforts, and of a temper so gentle and patient that he could effect a cure if vice were curable.
“After some very dangerous combats with his horse, the animal was subdued, and became so attached that his master could walk any where, with him following like a dog, and even ladies could mount him with perfect safety. ”

“ This horse is deservedly a favorite with his master, and engages in gambols with him like a dog.”
[115] “How old is your new horse, Frank?” inquired his brother George.
“Nine years. Just in his prime; and, with good care, will last for twenty years to come.”
Mr. Gordon laughed. “Twenty years!” he repeated, incredulously.
“I think,” answered the captain, “it a mistake to suppose a horse is not fit for service much after he is twelve or fourteen [116] years old. If he is used as he ought to be, and has good care, he will last well twenty, or even thirty years. ”

“ Gordon, “that there are instances of attachment of a horse to his master equal to that shown by man to man.
“During the Peninsular war; the trumpeter of a French cavalry corps had a fine charger assigned to him, of which he became passionately fond, and which, by gentleness of disposition and uniform docility, showed the affection to be mutual.
[104] “The sound of the trumpeter’s voice, the sight of his uniform, or the clang of his trumpet, was sufficient to throw this animal into a state of excitement, and he appeared to be pleased and happy only when under the saddle of his rider. ”

“ The neck of the mare is often the pillow of the rider, and more frequently of the children, who are rolling about upon her and the foal; yet no accident occurs, and she acquires a friendship and love for man which occasional ill-treat [143] ment will not cause her for a moment to forget. ”

“ It is the custom of the country, and custom will induce us to inflict many a pang on those whom, after all, we love.”
Minnie sighed.
“I remember,” added her fa [150] ther, affectionately patting her head, “an anecdote which proves the strong affection of the Arabian horse for home and friends.
“One of these animals was taken by the Persians in an attack made by an Arab tribe on a party of the royal family of Persia. The chief heading the party was killed, and his horse, running into the Persian lines, was taken. ”

“ When they pass through a swamp, they test it with the fore foot before they trust the weight of their whole bodies upon it; and they often scoop out a hollow place in the sand, expecting [136] it will fill with water. ”

“ They now seemed to consult together what measures to take to save the colts, that were standing up to the belly in the flood, and soon determined upon a singular course, when some old mares, which had no colts, assisted them in carrying it out. ”