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so much, on the first arrival of the Spaniards on their shores, as the horses. Horses are not generally used until they are three or three and a half years old. Some skill and strength are necessary to teach them to be willing to carry a person on their backs, or to be harnessed to a carriage.

The horse gets his full growth when he is about four years old, and generally lives to the age of twenty-five or thirty years. The Arabian horses are considered the handsomest of any that are known. The best English and American horses resemble those of Arabia and Barbary, from which some of them are bred.

It is said that the Arabian horses are descended from the wild horses in the deserts of Arabia. An Arabian, if he be ever so poor, has horses. As the Arabians have only a tent for their house, this tent serves them for a stable. The horses, colts, the husband, wife, and children, all live mixed up together; and the little children will lie on the body and neck of the mare and colt without these animals doing them any hurt, In fact, the horses and mares are so gentle, in their way, that they will allow the children to play with them as they please.

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The Arabians treat their horses very kindly. They talk to them, and the animals seem to know what they say. They never beat or spur them. If their rider should happen to fall, it is said they will stop, even when they are on a swift gallop.

The picture opposite represents a party of European travellers on their way to visit the Dead Sea, in Palestine. This is the place where the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah formerly stood. These cities were destroyed on account of their great wickedness. The story of their destruction is told in the Bible.

The party in the picture, who are going to visit this place, are riding on Arabian horses, and are accompanied by an Arabian chief for a guide.

The horse sleeps much less than man, when he is in health. He does not rest more than two or three hours together; he then gets up to eat. He does not usually sleep more than three or four hours in the twenty-four. Some horses never lie down, but sleep standing.

FABLE OF THE HORSE WHO WISHED TO BE REVENGED ON THE STAG.

Horses were, probably, always intended for man's use; but in the early ages of the world, when men lived upon acorns, asses, horses, and mules, were left more to themselves than they are now-a-days; and there was not much seen either of saddles or bridles; there were then no harnesses, no chaises, no carriages.

In those days, a horse once had had a quar rel with a stag. He tried to catch him in running, but the stag could run faster than the horse.

Then the horse begged a man to help him. The man consented. He put a bit in his mouth, and jumped upon the back of the horse. He followed the stag, and would not let the horse stop until he had reached and killed his enemy.

When this was done, the horse thanked the man who had helped him, and bade him good by, saying that he was going back to his

home in the woods.

But the man said, "No,

indeed, my friend; it is much better for you

to stay with me.

I find that you can be of

great use to me.

Stay with me. You shall

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