Part 12

1. When Puff would lie quite still out of doors, with his nose pointed one way for a long time, the children knew what was the matter.

2. There was a rat somewhere about, and Puff had seen him go into his hole and was watching for him to come out.

3. The boys would get a spade and begin to dig, and, when they had got in a little ways, Puff would take the matter into his own hand, and dash into the hole.

4. His little, short paws would make quick work, and he would dig in until even the tip of his tail could not be seen.

5. Then a squeak would be heard, and Puff would back out with a rat in his mouth, which he knew what to do with to prevent being bitten himself.

6. He would fling the rat into the air, and, as it would come down, he would catch it by the nape of its neck, give it a shake or two, and it was dead.

7. How proud he was then! He would lay the rat down in different places to see where it would look best, and then he would carry it round to each one in the house, until somebody took him and scrubbed the dirt off, so he was fit to be seen. [Illustration]

LESSON XXI.

HOW THE HORSE LOOKS.

1. Here we have the picture of a boy and a pony. The boy is taking a ride; but he has stopped, and seems to be waiting for some one.

2. Now we must find out something about the horse, and, Charlie, I think you can tell us what we wish to know.

3. I can tell something how a horse looks and what he can do, for we have horses at home, and I help take care of them.

4. The horse is much larger than the cat or dog. His home is in the stable, and he does not come into the house, as they do.

5. His head is long, and, when he puts his nose to the ground, the top of his head is just about as high as the top of a flour-barrel.

6. His eyes are large and round; his nose is much wider than that of a dog, but he has smaller ears than some dogs, and they stand up straight.

7. Upon the top of his head, and along the top of his neck, he has a thick bunch of long hair, which is his mane.

8. He has a broad, strong back, and can carry a man all day without being very tired. There is room upon his back for two persons, and some times two ride at a time.

9. He has long legs, so that his head is about as high as the top of a man’s hat.

10. He is covered with a thick coat of short hair, and this keeps him warm, except in very cold weather, when he needs a blanket.

11. Instead of claws, he has hoofs, hard like bone, so that it does not hurt him when he trots or runs on the ground.

12. When horses work, or travel over a hard road, they have iron shoes nailed to their hoofs, so that they will not be hurt by striking the stones.

13. The hoofs have no feeling on the outside, and it does not hurt the horse to have these shoes nailed on. They grow like our nails, and must be pared once in a while.

14. The horse can paw with his fore feet, and kick with his hind ones, and, when he kicks hard, he breaks things. He has a tail covered with long hair, and this he uses as a switch to keep off flies in summer.

LESSON XXII.

THE HORSE AND ITS FRIENDS.

1. In some places men keep horses to ride when they go out to hunt foxes, and these horses are called hunters.

2. Dogs are also used in the hunt, and the horses and dogs are so much together that they often become the best of friends.

3. Once old “Hector,” a dog, had such a liking for his friend “Ben,” the hunter, that he would leave his own bed and go and sleep with Ben in the stable.