William and Ready were to carry the beds, etc.,
round to the bay in the boat, which they could do in two trips, and Mr.
and Mrs. Seagrave, with the family, were to walk through the woods
after taking a very early breakfast.
All these points being arranged, they had finished their supper, when
William again brought up the conversation about animals, as he was
delighted to bear Mr. Seagrave talk on the subject. The conversation
had not commenced more than a few minutes, when William said--
"Papa, they always say `as stupid as an ass'. Is an ass such a stupid
animal?"
"No, William; it is a very sagacious one; but the character has been
given to the animal more on account of its obstinacy and
untractableness, than on any other account. It is usual to say, as
stupid as an ass, or as stupid as a pig, or a goose. Now, these three
animals are very much maligned, for they are all sagacious animals. But
the fact is that, as regards the ass, we have only very sorry specimens
of the animal in England; they are stunted and small, and, from want of
corn and proper food, besides being very ill-treated, are slow and
dull-looking animals. The climate of England is much too cold for the
ass; in the south of France and the Mediterranean, where it is much
warmer, the ass is a much finer animal; but to see it in perfection we
must go to the Torrid Zone in Guinea, right on the equator, the hottest
portion of the globe, where the ass, in its native state and in its
native country, is a handsome creature and as fleet as the wind;
indeed, supposed to be, and mentioned in the Scriptures as the fleetest
animal in creation.
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