From the beginning it has been the poor man's beast of burden; and "pity 'tis 'tis true," poor men, in all the generations of human poverty, have been far too prone to harshness of temper and treatment towards the beasts that serve them and share their lot of humble life.

The donkey is made a kind of Ishmaelite in the great family of domestic animals.

He is made, not born so.

He is beaten about the head unmercifully with a heavy stick, and then jeered at for being stupid and obstinate! just as if any other creature, of four or two legs, would not be stupid after such fierce congestion of the brain.

His long ears subject him to a more cruel prejudice than ever color engendered in the circle of humanity but just above him.