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The gentleman replied, ‘No.
He had the staggers very badly, and I sent him to the carrionbutch-ers.’
‘I should be sorry to sell an animal to any man, who would send him to the carrion-butchers because he was diseased,’ answered Joseph.
‘If thou wert ill, how wouldst thou like to have thy throat cut, instead of being kindly nursed?’
With some surprise, the gentleman inquired whether he intended to compare him to a horse.
‘No,’ replied Joseph; ‘but animals have feelings, as well as human beings; and when they are afflicted with disease, they ought to be carefully attended.
If I consent to sell thee this horse, I shall exact a promise that thou wilt have him kindly nursed when he is sick, and not send him to have his throat cut.’
The gentleman readily promised all that was required, and said he should consider himself very fortunate to obtain a horse that so much resembled his old favorite.
When he called the next day, to complete the bargain, he inquired whether forty guineas would be a satisfactory price.
The conscientious Quaker answered, ‘I have good reason to believe the horse was once thine; and I am willing to restore him to thee on the conditions I have mentioned.
I have saved him from the carrion-butchers, but I will charge thee merely what I have expended for his food and medicine.
Let it be a lesson to thee to ’
Boston, J. P. Jewett and Company; Cleveland, Ohio: Jewett, Proctor and Worthington; London; Low and Company, 1854.
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