Part IV
Chapter 46: Jakes and the Lady
(continued)
"You see he was quite willing when you gave him the chance; I am sure
he is a fine-tempered creature, and I dare say has known better days.
You won't put that rein on again, will you?" for he was just going
to hitch it up on the old plan.
"Well, ma'am, I can't deny that having his head has helped him up the hill,
and I'll remember it another time, and thank you, ma'am; but if he went
without a check-rein I should be the laughing-stock of all the carters;
it is the fashion, you see."
"Is it not better," she said, "to lead a good fashion than to follow
a bad one? A great many gentlemen do not use check-reins now;
our carriage horses have not worn them for fifteen years,
and work with much less fatigue than those who have them; besides,"
she added in a very serious voice, "we have no right to distress
any of God's creatures without a very good reason; we call them dumb animals,
and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel,
but they do not suffer less because they have no words.
But I must not detain you now; I thank you for trying my plan
with your good horse, and I am sure you will find it far better
than the whip. Good-day," and with another soft pat on my neck
she stepped lightly across the path, and I saw her no more.
"That was a real lady, I'll be bound for it," said Jakes to himself;
"she spoke just as polite as if I was a gentleman, and I'll try her plan,
uphill, at any rate;" and I must do him the justice to say
that he let my rein out several holes, and going uphill after that,
he always gave me my head; but the heavy loads went on.
Good feed and fair rest will keep up one's strength under full work,
but no horse can stand against overloading; and I was getting
so thoroughly pulled down from this cause that a younger horse was bought
in my place. I may as well mention here what I suffered at this time
from another cause. I had heard horses speak of it, but had never myself
had experience of the evil; this was a badly-lighted stable;
there was only one very small window at the end, and the consequence
was that the stalls were almost dark.
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