Page:OntheConductofMantoInferiorAnimals.pdf/29

 a farm-yard, in the neighbourhood of his residence, the compiler of these pages witnessed a worse than savage brutality of this kind. The farmer's labourer was employed in adjusting some part of an empty cart, which stood without horses. A heifer approached familiarly the place, seemed amused by looking at the fellow, and stood some minutes without being perceived by him. At last, the man cast his eyes on it, which immediately beamed enmity, accompanied with, "Oh, damn you! are there? what do you want?" At the same instant he seized a very heavy hedge-stake, which lay at his feet, smote the poor heifer on the side, with great force, and broke into a loud horse laugh. The stroke resounded, and the pain inflicted may be easily conceived. On asking him what motive iuduced such unfeeling and unjust barbarity, he answered, with an oath, "the heifer had no business there." This heifer would have been less than an animal, if, after such a rebuke, it ever again approached man with affability. It is by such treatment that most of our domesticated animals avoid the human form.

. In the country, as well as in towns, one may witness, almost every day, treatment, the most abominable, of aged or emaciated horses, by low carters, who purchase them for a trifle, to "work up," as they term it. Among these wretches he is the cleverest fellow who can wield a massy whip with the least fatigue. Their business is literally that of hewing living flesh. Almost every neighbourhood contains some of this description of infernal monsters. Even among country farmers, if the carter be offended at the condition or figure of a horse, which his master has purchased, his whip is perpetually laid on him, his name only is continually vociferated; for