to jump over high fences, so that in the deerchase or the fox-hunt fences do not obstruct their course. They are among the swiftest also of all animals. Some horses have been known to trot a mile in two minutes and two and one-half seconds.

Since the introduction of steam-propelled farm implements and of the automobile and autotruck, the labors of the horse have been greatly lightened, and his journeys much reduced both in length and numbers. But his services are still most valuable, and in demand, especially on the farm and in hauling farm products to market.

An animal so useful, and so willing and obedient, surely deserves our admiration, good care, and kind treatment. The following stories will delight all lovers of these noble and useful animals.

A GENEROUS HORSE

THE following incident shows that it is possible for a horse to be "a perfect gentleman.'

Two fine-looking horses attached to single buggies were hitched one day near the entrance to the St. Louis Merchants' Exchange. They were tied several feet apart, but the hitching

straps allowed them sufficient liberty of movement to get their heads together if they so desired.

The owner of one of them had taken the opportunity of a prolonged stop to give his horse a feed of oats, which was placed on the edge of the sidewalk in a bag. The horse was contentedly munching his oats when his attention was attracted by the actions of the other horse, which was evidently very hungry. This horse eyed the plentiful supply of oats wistfully, and neighed in an insinuating manner.

The horse with the feed pricked up his ears politely and replied with a neigh, which must have been, in horse language, an invitation to the other fellow to help himself.

Evidently he accepted the invitation, for he moved along in the direction of the bag as far as his hitching-strap would permit. But the strap was not long enough, and his hungry mouth fell about a yard short of the bag.

The other horse noticed and seemed to appreciate this difficulty. Fortunately there was some leeway to his strap. So he moved slowly along the curb, pushing the bag with his nose until the other horse was able to reach it. Then, after a friendly nose-rub of salutation, the two horses contentedly finished the oats together.

This generous, gentlemanly horse obeyed the Golden Rule of loving his neighbor as himself.

THE ARAB AND HIS HORSE

ARABS are proverbially fond of their beautiful horses.

The whole wealth of a poor Arab of the desert consisted of his handsome mare. The French consul wished to purchase her to send to his sovereign, Louis XIV, offering to pay a large sum for her.

The Arab would have rejected the proposal at once with scorn, but he was miserably poor. He had little means of supplying his most urgent wants, or procuring the barest necessities of life. His wife and children were in need of both food and clothing. The sum offered was great. It would provide him and his family with food for life.

At length he reluctantly consented. Bringing the mare to the house of the consul, he dismounted and stood leaning against the beautiful animal. He looked first at the gold, then at his favorite. He sighed; he wept. "To whom is it," he asked himself, "that I am going to yield thee up? To Europeans, who will tie thee up, who will beat thee, who will render thee miser

able. Return with me, my beauty, my jewel, and rejoice the hearts of my children!" Thus saying, he sprang upon her back, left the gold, and was quickly out of sight.

A WISE HORSE AND THE PUMP

A HORSE was shut up in a small enclosure near Leeds, England, in a corner of which stood a pump with a tub beneath it. The groom, however, often forgot to fill the tub, and then the horse had no water to drink.

But the horse had observed the way in which the water was got, and one night when the tub was empty, he was seen to take the pump-handle in his mouth and work it with his head till he had gotten as much water as he required to quench his thirst.

Like the horse, we may learn much if we will only observe how things are done.

HOW A PONY SAVED A BOY'S LIFE

A PET pony ridden by the son of a farmer living near Fairfield, Nebraska, is believed to have saved the boy's life while he lay unconscious, after having been attacked by a vicious bull.