Far beyond that,
it is the symbol, the solid expression, of life itself to the owner, his
family, and circle of connections, more so than even the ship to the
sailor, as the sailor, no matter how he may love his ship, longs for
port, and the joys of the shore, but the barrow folk are always at sea on
land, Such care has to be taken of the miserable pony or the shamefaced
jackass; he has to be groomed, and fed, and looked to in his shed, and
this occupies three or four of the family at least, lads and strapping
young girls, night and morning. Besides which, the circle of connections
look in to see how he is going on, and to hear the story of the day's
adventures, and what is proposed for to-morrow. Perhaps one is invited to
join the next excursion, and thinks as much of it as others might do of
an invitation for a cruise in the Mediterranean. Any one who watches the
succession of barrows driving along through the village out into the
fields of Kent can easily see how they bear upon their wheels the
fortunes of whole families and of their hangers-on. Sometimes there is a
load of pathos, of which the race of the ass has carried a good deal in
all ages. More often it is a heavy lump of dull, evil, and exceedingly
stupid cunning.
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