not tell where my horse might be taking
me. It might be far away from where I hoped to find my companions.

At length I heard a dog bark, and saw a light twinkling far down beneath
me, by which I knew that I was still on the mountain-side. Thus on my
steady steed proceeded, till I found that he was going along a road, and
I fancied I could distinguish the outlines of trees on either hand.
Suddenly he turned on one side, when my hat was nearly knocked off by
striking against the beam of a trellised porch, covered with vines; and
to my joy I found that he had brought me up to the door of the inn which
we had left in the morning.

My companions, trusting to their human guide, had not arrived, having
taken a longer though safer route. My steed had followed the direct
path over the mountains which we had pursued in the morning.

Another horse of mine, which always appeared a gentle animal, and which
constantly carried a lady, was, during my absence, ridden by a friend
with spurs. On my return, I found that he had on several occasions
attacked his rider, when dismounted, with his fore-feet, and had once
carried off the rim of his hat. From that time forward he would allow
no one to approach him if he saw spurs on his heels; and I was obliged
to blindfold him when mounting and dismounting, as he on several
occasions attacked me as he had done my friend.

My horse had till that time been a willing, quiet animal. How many
human beings have, by thoughtless, cruel treatment, been turned from
faithful servants into implacable foes. I must urge my young readers
always to treat those who may be dependent on them with kindness and
gentleness, rather because it is their duty so to do, than from fear of
the consequences of an opposite course.

THE WISE HORSE AND THE PUMP.

A horse was shut up in a paddock near Leeds, in a corner of which stood
a pump with a tub beneath it. The groom, however, often forgot to fill
the tub, the horse having thus no water to drink. The animal had
observed the way in which water was procured, and one night, when the
tub was empty, was seen to take the pump handle in his mouth, and work
it with his head till he had procured as much water as he required.

What a wise horse he was! How much wiser than some young ladies and
gentlemen, who, when there is no water in their jugs, or their shoes are
not cleaned, dress without washing rather than take the trouble of
getting it for themselves, or we