ABSTRACT
It was almost dark by the time he got home. His rst care was to put up his horse in the stable, and to set before him a good feed of oats and a rack full of the best hay: for, though poor Ned himself had not tasted a morsel since the morning, nor did even feel the least appetite, yet he very humanely considered that honest Blackbird, strong as the friendship was between them, might not perhaps sympathize with him in all his feelings. He did not, however, on that account, follow the example of too many, who, when unhappy themselves, wish to make every one connected with them unhappy also; but he followed the natural bent of his inclination, which was to impart pleasure to the utmost of his power to every being around him, rational or irrational; and he justly thought, that if the divine Being had condescended to order/ that the ox which treadeth out the corn should not be muzzled,48 but should have his share of the corn for his wages, so it became him to provide a comfortable meal and lodging for the faithful beast who had carried him without stumbling for twenty miles. And indeed it were to be wished that those who call themselves good-natured people, would endeavour to manifest that amiable quality in all their actions; for I have o en seen instances where those who were esteemed the best-natured people in the world by their superiors, were held in a very di erent light by their domestics – and he who was the delight of a whole company at a tavern, go home to be the terror of his wife and children. True good nature is the most exalted virtue of the soul. is is that virtue which St. Paul calls charity, and which, to be genuine, must be as extensive as creation. It must not con ne its feelings to its friends and benefactors, nor even to its species. It must desire the happiness of universal nature; as far as is in/ its power it must promote it; and it must not behold without commiseration the su erings of the meanest worm. With this virtue was our Ned possessed, as much as ever it was possessed by any human being; and now having seen all things right in the stable, he went into the house to his father.
