Today, boys and girls, we shall be reading from the New Australian Reading Books, Second Reading Book, Lesson 20, A Stitch in Time Saves Nine.
Paul saddled his horse to ride to the neighbouring town, with the half-year's rent of his farm. As he mounted, he saw that a nail of one of the horse's shoes was wanting. "It is not worth the trouble of dismounting," said he; "the want of a nail will not hinder my horse on the journey." So he rode off.
He had gone three miles when he saw that the horse had lost the shoe that wanted the nail.
"I might be able," said he, "to get a shoe put on at the neighbouring smithy: but no, I shall lose too much time, my horse will reach the town quite easily with three shoes."
Further on a great thorn pricked the foot of the horse, sorely wounding it. "I shall be able," said Paul, "to dress the wound when I reach the town; it is only a mile distant."
A little after the horse took a full step and fell. Paul was thrown with great violence, and had his arm put out of joint at the shoulder.
He was taken to a house nearby where he lay for ten days, unable to move. His horse was much hurt and of little use afterwards.
Paul lost his time, had to spend a good sum of money, and to endure much suffering. "All this," said he, "has come of those little neglects. If I had put a nail in my horse's shoe it would not have been lost; if I had got a shoe put on the horse's foot would not have been wounded; the horse would not have stumbled and fallen, nor should I have been lying here like a log."
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