who hires me now pays a deal of money to the owner every day, and so he
has to get it out of me, too; and so it's all the week round and round,
with never a Sunday rest."

I said, "You used to stand up for yourself if you were ill-used."

"Ah!" she said, "I did once, but it's no use; men are strongest, and if
they are cruel and have no feeling, there is nothing that we can do but
just bear it--bear it on and on to the end. I wish the end was come, I
wish I was dead. I have seen dead horses, and I am sure they do not
suffer pain."

I was very much troubled, and I put my nose up to hers, but I could say
nothing to comfort her. I think she was pleased to see me, for she said,
"You are the only friend I ever had."

Just then her driver came up, and with a tug at her mouth, backed her
out of the line and drove off, leaving me very sad, indeed.

A short time after this, a cart with a dead horse in it passed our cab
stand. The head hung out of the cart tail, the lifeless tongue was
slowly dropping with blood; and the sunken eyes! but I can't speak of
them, the sight was too dreadful! It was a chestnut horse with a long,
thin neck. I saw a white streak down the forehead. I believe it was
Ginger; I hoped it was, for then her troubles would be over. Oh! if men
were more merciful, they would shoot us before we came to such misery.