Esq being locked in the stable, on hearing the noise of a French horn, and cry of the hounds, began to be very restive: the ostler going into the stable, judged that the spirited animal wanted some sport; he instantly saddled him, to which he affixed a large monkey, and turned him loose, who, following the sound, joined the pack, and was one of the first in at the death of poor reynard; but the amazement of the sporting gentlemen was greatly heightened, by observing the monkey holding the reins with all the dexterity of a true sportsman. Bell's Weekly Messenger, The sagacious Mule. A CERTAIN mule that was wont to carry salt, in fording a river, by accident happened to stumble; by which means the water melting away the salt, when the mule rose again, he felt himself much lighter; the cause of which the mule was very sensible of, and laid it up in his memory, insomuch, that every time he forded the same river, he would always stoop when he came into the deepest part, and fill his vessels with water, crouching down, and leaning sometimes to one side, and sometimes to another. Thales hearing this, ordered the vessels to be well filled with wool and sponge, and to drive the mule laden after that manner. The mule, as he was wont, filled his burthens with water, and on discovering the trick which had been played him, reasoned with himself, that he had ill consulted his own benefit; and ever afterwards, when he forded the same river, was so careful and cautious, that by his good will he would never suffer his burthens so much as to touch the water. The industrious Mule. WHEN Pericles built the temple Hecatonpedon, in the Acropolis or Tower of Athens, it so feil out, that the stones were to be fetched every day many furlongs off, and a world of carriages were made use of for that purpose. Among the rest of the mules that laboured hard in this employment, there was one that, though dismissed by reason of age, would still go down to the Keramicon, and meeting the carts that brought the stones, would be always in their company, running by their sides, as it were by way of encouragement, and to excite them to work cheerfully. So that the people, admiring the zeal of the mule, ordered him to be fed at the public charge. Plutarch. The Magnanimous Horse. SUCH was the humour of Bucephalus, the famous horse of Alexander the Great, that before he was accoutred, would suffer his groom to back him; but when he had all his royal trappings and housings about him, would permit no person but Alexander to bestride Ꭰ him.. If any other persons approached him out of curiosity, in order to try what they could do, he encountered them open-mouthed, and neighing out his fury, leaped upon their shoulders, bore them down, and trampled them under his feet, unless prevented by keeping at a distance, or by speedy flight. Plutarch. Extraordinary Perseverance in a TILL of late years pack-horses were employed, in the northern counties of England, to carry the different manufactures and articles of traffic from one part of the kingdom to another; but the improved state of our roads has caused that mode of conveyance to be |