"These are very excellent rules indeed, Mr. Wilson, and I wish they were generally followed," said Mrs. Benson; "for I believe many poor beasts suffer greatly from the ill-treatment inflicted on them, the horses particularly." Yes, madam," said the farmer, "I have heard so, and could tell you such stories of cruelties exercised on brutes in the country as would quite shock you; and I have seen such instances myself of the ill effects of neglecting them, as have confirmed me in the notions I learnt from the good sermon I told you of."
"I am much obliged to you for your information, Mr. Wilson," said Mrs. Benson, "and hope my children will never forget it, for it certainly is a duty to extend our clemency to beasts and other animals. Nay, we are strictly commanded in the Scriptures to show compassion to the beasts of others, even to those of our enemies; surely, then, those which are our own property, and work for us, have a peculiar claim to it. There is one custom which shocks me very much, and that is pounding of cattle; I fancy, Mr. Wilson, you do not practise that much."
"Madam," replied he, "I should much rather pound the owners of them, through whose neglect or dishonesty it generally happens that horses trespass on other people's land. If any beast accidentally gets
