measure the distance,
and cleared the whole; the only ill effect arising from which, was, that
the marks of her hoofs were left in the carpet. This clever mare
constantly opened the door of her stable, and went to warm herself at
the fire in the harness-room; but her affection for her master had more
than once preserved his life. On one occasion, it is supposed, he had
slipped off her, and been unable to get on again; when, overcome with
sleep, he folded his arms, rested them against her side, and laying his
head upon them, remained there in a sound slumber. It was presumed they
had been in this posture a long time; and, had she moved, his life would
probably have been endangered by the fall, for they were close to a
steep declivity. On another occasion she came home, neighed at the door
of the dwelling, and did not offer to go to the stable; the family were
aroused, servants rose, she trotted back, and stood by her master, who
was lying senseless by the side of the road. They must have fallen
together, as on his chest was the mark of one of her feet, probably made
in getting up again. He was only stunned, and in a few days recovered
from his fall, while she was more than ever loved. She was a chestnut
mare, with a white star; and very like her, was another, called Peggy,
which, from having belonged especially to our mother, we, as children,
claimed as ours also; and I have always, when recollecting her, been
able to picture to myself the intimacy between horses and human beings
in an Arab family. We crawled over her, we seated ourselves upon her
without bridle or saddle, we clung to her neck when she had no room for
us on her back, and we sat upon her as she herself lay in her stall.
When she was ill, we administered the medicine, almost quarreling as to
who should take the gruel to her; when she heard our voices, whatever
pain she was in, she saluted us with a neigh; she was patient under
every infliction, accommodated herself to every fancy, and, with her
prudence and good temper, was often instrumental to our safety. Although
she had been a hunter, and was a lady's horse, she went well in harness,
and used to run in a curricle, with all the fiery spirits whom my father
chose to drive; and we must have been dashed to pieces more than once,
but for her steadiness and forbearance. At last, we were obliged to part
with her; that is, we were going to live where we could not keep her;
and a friend took her into his park, w