English
ThelongerIlivedatBirtwickthemoreproudandhappyIfeltathavingsuchaplace.
Ourmasterandmistresswererespectedandbelovedbyallwhoknewthem;theyweregoodandkindtoeverybodyandeverything;notonlymenandwomen,buthorsesanddonkeys,dogsandcats,cattleandbirds;therewasnooppressedorill-usedcreaturethathadnotafriendinthem,andtheirservantstookthesametone.
IfanyofthevillagechildrenwereknowntotreatanycreaturecruellytheysoonheardaboutitfromtheHall.
ThesquireandFarmerGreyhadworkedtogether,astheysaid,formorethantwentyyearstogetcheck-reinsonthecart-horsesdoneawaywith,andinourpartsyouseldomsawthem;andsometimes,ifmistressmetaheavilyladenhorsewithhisheadstrainedupshewouldstopthecarriageandgetout,andreasonwiththedriverinhersweetseriousvoice,andtrytoshowhimhowfoolishandcruelitwas.
Idon'tthinkanymancouldwithstandourmistress.Iwishallladieswerelikeher.
Ourmaster,too,usedtocomedownveryheavysometimes.
Irememberhewasridingmetowardhomeonemorningwhenwesawapowerfulmandrivingtowardusinalightponychaise,withabeautifullittlebaypony,withslenderlegsandahigh-bredsensitiveheadandface.
Justashecametotheparkgatesthelittlethingturnedtowardthem;theman,withoutwordorwarning,wrenchedthecreature'sheadroundwithsuchaforceandsuddennessthathenearlythrewitonitshaunches.
Recoveringitselfitwasgoingon,whenhebegantolashitfuriously.
Theponyplungedforward,butthestrong,heavyhandheldtheprettycreaturebackwithforcealmostenoughtobreakitsjaw,whilethewhipstillcutintohim.
Itwasadreadfulsighttome,forIknewwhatfearfulpainitgavethatdelicatelittlemouth;butmastergavemetheword,andwewereupwithhiminasecond.
"Sawyer,"hecriedinasternvoice,"isthatponymadeoffleshandblood?"
"Fleshandbloodandtemper,"hesaid;"he'stoofondofhisownwill,andthatwon'tsuitme."Hespokeasifhewasinastrongpassion.Hewasabuilderwhohadoftenbeentotheparkonbusiness.
"Anddoyouthink,"saidmastersternly,"thattreatmentlikethiswillmakehimfondofyourwill?"
"Hehadnobusinesstomakethatturn;hisroadwasstraighton!"saidthemanroughly.
"Youhaveoftendriventhatponyuptomyplace,"saidmaster;"itonlyshowsthecreature'smemoryandintelligence;howdidheknowthatyouwerenotgoingthereagain?Butthathaslittletodowithit.
Imustsay,Mr.Sawyer,thatamoreunmanly,brutaltreatmentofalittleponyitwasnevermypainfullottowitness,andbygivingwaytosuchpassionyouinjureyourowncharacterasmuch,naymore,thanyouinjureyourhorse;andremember,weshallallhavetobejudgedaccordingtoourworks,whethertheybetowardmanortowardbeast."
Masterrodemehomeslowly,andIcouldtellbyhisvoicehowthethinghadgrievedhim.
Hewasjustasfreetospeaktogentlemenofhisownrankastothosebelowhim;foranotherday,whenwewereout,wemetaCaptainLangley,afriendofourmaster's;hewasdrivingasplendidpairofgraysinakindofbreak.
Afteralittleconversationthecaptainsaid:
"Whatdoyouthinkofmynewteam,Mr.Douglas?Youknow,youarethejudgeofhorsesintheseparts,andIshouldlikeyouropinion."
Themasterbackedmealittle,soastogetagoodviewofthem.
"Theyareanuncommonlyhandsomepair,"hesaid,"andiftheyareasgoodastheylookIamsureyouneednotwishforanythingbetter;butIseeyoustillholdthatpetschemeofyoursforworryingyourhorsesandlesseningtheirpower."
"Whatdoyoumean,"saidtheother,"thecheck-reins?Oh,ah!Iknowthat'sahobbyofyours;well,thefactis,Iliketoseemyhorsesholdtheirheadsup."
"SodoI,"saidmaster,"aswellasanyman,butIdon'tliketoseethemheldup;thattakesalltheshineoutofit.
Now,youareamilitaryman,Langley,andnodoubtliketoseeyourregimentlookwellonparade,'headsup',andallthat;butyouwouldnottakemuchcreditforyourdrillifallyourmenhadtheirheadstiedtoabackboard!
Itmightnotbemuchharmonparade,excepttoworryandfatiguethem;buthowwoulditbeinabayonetchargeagainsttheenemy,whentheywantthefreeuseofeverymuscle,andalltheirstrengththrownforward?
Iwouldnotgivemuchfortheirchanceofvictory.
Anditisjustthesamewithhorses:youfretandworrytheirtempers,anddecreasetheirpower;youwillnotletthemthrowtheirweightagainsttheirwork,andsotheyhavetodotoomuchwiththeirjointsandmuscles,andofcourseitwearsthemupfaster.
Youmaydependuponit,horseswereintendedtohavetheirheadsfree,asfreeasmen'sare;andifwecouldactalittlemoreaccordingtocommonsense,andagooddeallessaccordingtofashion,weshouldfindmanythingsworkeasier;besides,youknowaswellasIthatifahorsemakesafalsestep,hehasmuchlesschanceofrecoveringhimselfifhisheadandneckarefastenedback.
Andnow,"saidthemaster,laughing,"Ihavegivenmyhobbyagoodtrotout,can'tyoumakeupyourmindtomounthim,too,captain?Yourexamplewouldgoalongway."
"Ibelieveyouarerightintheory,"saidtheother,"andthat'sratherahardhitaboutthesoldiers;but—well—I'llthinkaboutit,"andsotheyparted.
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