Part 15

8. Then they took old Major into the shop, and the blacksmith pared the hoof and set the shoe. In nailing on the shoe, he said he must be careful not to drive the nails too far in where the hoof was tender, or it would make the horse lame.

9. In going up Oak Hill, uncle would stop the horses every little way to let them rest. They would pant for a minute or two, then take a deep breath and go on. There was a cool spring close by, where we stopped to go into the berry-field, and here we hitched the horses in the shade.

10. They were very warm and thirsty, but uncle would not give them any water until they had time to cool. The flies were awful, but our horses switched them off with their long tails.

11. Near by was a little bob-tailed horse turned out to pasture; and, as he could not switch off the flies, they bit him so he could hardly get time to eat. If the man who owned that horse could have the flies bite him so for a few days, I don’t think he would cut off the tail of another horse.

12. We just filled our baskets with berries, and ate our dinner under the shade of some big trees that stood by the spring. Then we came home.

13. Uncle’s horses are steady, because he uses them well. He never jerks them, or whips them, or yells at them. When he goes near them they rub their noses against him, they are so glad to see him.

14. In winter he puts blankets on them when they stand still, for he says their coats are not thick enough to keep them warm. Then he gives them a good bed of dry, clean straw to lie on, and plenty of hay and grain to eat.

LESSON XXVIII.

HOW THE DONKEY LOOKS.

1. On the other page we see a boy on the back of a donkey, taking a ride. The donkey looks kind and steady, but look below and see what has happened!

2. We will call upon Harry to tell us something about the donkey—how he looks, and what he can do.

3. The donkey is much like a horse, only smaller. His head is larger and more clumsy than that of the horse, and his ears are much larger.

4. His nose is blunter than that of a horse, and his legs are shorter. He has some long hair between his ears, but no mane on his neck. His tail is long and slim, with long hair only on the end of it.

5. His feet have hoofs like those of a horse, but they are smaller, and he can travel in many places where a horse can not.

6. His coat is longer and thicker than that of the horse, and he can get along with much less care. He goes along with his head hanging down, as if it was too heavy for him to hold up, and he looks very awkward beside the horse.

7. He has teeth like those of a horse, so that we can put a bit in his mouth when we drive him.

8. In color, most donkeys are brown, or a dirty white, with a black stripe along the back, from the head to the tail, and also a black stripe across the shoulders.

9. When the horse neighs, his voice is very pleasant; but the donkey’s bray is loud and harsh, and when he opens his mouth his voice is heard above all others.

10. I read the story of a man riding a donkey in the West, when the Indians caught him. As they were about to carry him off, the donkey gave an awful loud bray, which scared the Indians, so that they ran away and left the man to go on his journey.

LESSON XXIX.

WHAT THE DONKEY DOES.

1. Poor, old donkey! In some countries he is made to do all kinds of hard and dirty work, and he is driven about with many blows and kicks.

2. The rag-man, in the city, picks up a load for him out of the gutters; and the tinker, who goes about mending old pans and kettles, loads him down with heavy tools.

3. There are people that have no homes, but rove about and drive donkeys in queer little carts, and camp by the way-side, and sleep out-of-doors.

4. For them a donkey is better than a horse, for he can live upon coarse food. He eats thistles and weeds that a horse will not touch; and he will pick up enough to eat where a horse would starve.

5. In places by the sea-side, or among the mountains, where people go to stay in hot weather, donkeys are kept for ladies and children to ride.

6. In the morning, long rows of them will stand waiting for ladies to come and hire them. They are so kind and steady, that there is no danger to the little children who ride them.

7. The donkey is very sure-footed, and will carry his rider safely over steep and stony places where a horse can not go. Poor, old donkey! He looks stupid, and he is slow. But, when treated kindly, he is a very willing and faithful servant.