so hard it took the heart out of me. A third time he was flogging me
cruelly, when a lady stepped quickly up to him, and said in a sweet,
earnest voice:
Oh! pray do not whip your good horse any more; I am sure he is doing
all he can, and the road is very steep; I am sure he is doing his best.
If doing his best won't get this load up he must do something more than
his best; that's all I know, ma'am, said Jakes.
But is it not a heavy load? she said.
Yes, yes, too heavy, he said; but that's not my fault; the foreman
came just as we were starting, and would have three hundredweight more
put on to save him trouble, and I must get on with it as well as I can.
He was raising the whip again, when the lady said:
Pray, stop; I think I can help you if you will let me.
The man laughed.
You see, she said, you do not give him a fair chance; he cannot use
all his power with his head held back as it is with that check-rein; if
you would take it off I am sure he would do better--do try it, she said
persuasively, I should be very glad if you would.
Well, well, said Jakes, with a short laugh, anything to please a
lady, of course. How far would you wish it down, ma'am?
Quite down, give him his head altogether.
The rein was taken off, and in a moment I put my head down to my very
knees. What a comfort it was! Then I tossed it up and down several times
to get the aching stiffness out of my neck.
Poor fellow! that is what you wanted, said she, patting and stroking
me with her gentle hand; and now if you will speak kindly to him and
lead him on I believe he will be able to do better.
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