Black Beauty

Cock ncys. 1 1CHAPTER XXIX.COCKNEYS.Then there is the steam-engine style of driving ; thesedrivers were mostly people from towns, who never had ahorse of their own, and generally traveled by rail.TJiey ahvays seemed to think that a horse zvas somethinglike a steam-engine, only smaller. At any rate, they thinkthat if only they pay for it, a horse is bound to go just as farand just as fast and with just as heavy a load as they please.And be the road heavy and muddy, or dry and good be they;stony or smooth, uphill or downhill, it is all the same—on, on,on, one must go, at the same pace, with no relief and no consideration.These people never think of getting out to walk up asteep hill. Oh, no, they have paid to ride, and ride they willwere horses madeThe horse } Oh, he's used to it ! Whatfor, if not to drag people uphill.' Walk! A good jokeindeed ! And so the whip is plied and the rein chucked, andoften a rough, scolding voice cries out, " Go along, you lazybeast!" And then another slash of the whip, when all thetime we are doing our very best to get along, uncomplainingand obedient, though often sorely harassed and down-heartedThis steam-engine style driving of wears us up faster thanany other kind. Jivonldfar rathergo twenty miles with a good,considerate driver than I would go ten ivith some of these ; itwould take less out of me.Another thing, they scarcely ever put on the brake, howeversteep the downhill may be, and thus bad accidents sometimeshappen ; or if they do put it on, they often forget to