THE HORSE, THE DOG, AND THE MAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 185, 14 January 1915, Page 2

THE HORSE, THE DOG, AND THE MAN.

The horse and the dog had tamed a man i and fastened him to a fence, i Said the horse to the dog, "For the life of me, I don't see a bit of sense 111 letting him have the thumbs that grow at the sides of his hands, do you'!" And the, dog looked solemn and shook his head and said, "I'm a goat if I do." The poor man groaned and tried to get loose, and sadly he begged them "stay!" You will rob me of things for which I have use, by cutting my thumbs away! You will spoil my looks, you will causa me pain! All, why would you treat me so? As I am, Cod made me, and He knows best! Oh masters pray let me go!" The dog laughed out and the horse replied, We'll have a hot iron to clap right on, . as you did in your docking of me!" God gave you your thumbs and all , but still, the Creator, you know, may fail To do the artistic thing, as he did in furnishing me with a tail!" So they bound the man and cut oft' Uis thumbs, ami were deaf to his pitiful cries, And they seared the stumps and they viewed their work with happy and dazzled eyes. "How trim lie appears!" the horse exclaimed, "since his awkward thumbs are gone. For the life of me I cannot see why tlie Lord ever put them on!" "Still it seems to me," the dog replied, ' 'that there's something else to do; His cars look rather long to me and how do they look to you?" The man cried out, "Oh, spare mv ears! ' you'll surely disfigure me!" "But you didn't disfigure, me, you know," the dog derisively said, '"When you bound me fast and trimmed my cars down close to the top of my head!"

So they let him moan and they let groan while they cropped his ears away. And tliey praised his looks when they lot him up, and proud indeed were they. But that was years and years ago, In an unenlightened age! Such things are ended now, you know; we've reached a higher stage! The ears and thumbs God gave to man a-re his to keep and wear, And the cruel dog and horse look on and never appear to care!