I OFFER MY PRAYER; FEED ME, WATER AND CARE FOR ME, AND WHEN THE DAYS WORK IS DONE, PROVIDE ME WITH SHELTER, A CLEAN DRY BED, AND A STALL WIDE ENOUGH FOR ME TO LAY DOWN IN COMFORT.
ALWAYS BE KIND TO ME, TALK TO ME, YOUR VOICE OFTEN MEANS AS MUCH TO ME AS THE REINS.
PET ME SOMETIMES, THAT I MAY SERVE YOU MORE GLADLY AND LEARN TO LOVE YOU.
DO NOT JERK THE REINS, AND DO NOT WHIP ME WHEN GOING UPHILL. NEVER STRIKE, KICK, OR BEAT ME WHEN I DO NOT UNDERSTAND YOU.
WATCH ME, AND IF I FAIL TO DO YOUR BIDDING, SEE IF SOMETHING IS NOT WRONG WITH MY HARNESS, OR MY FEET.DO NOT CHECK ME SO THAT I CANNOT HAVE FREE USE OF MY HEAD. IF YOU INSIST THAT I WEAR BLINDERS, SO THAT I CANNOT SEE BEHIND ME AS IT WAS UNTENDED I SHOULD, I PRAY YOU TO BE CAREFUL THAT THE BLINDERS STAND WELL BACK FROM MY EYES.
DO NOT OVERLOAD ME,OR HITCH ME WHERE WATER WILL DROP ON ME, KEEP ME WELL SHOD. EXAMINE MY TEETH WHEN I DO NOT EAT. I MAY HAVE AN ULCERATED TOOTH, AND THAT --AS YOU KNOW--IS VERY PAINFUL.
DO NOT TIE MY HEAD IN AN UNNATURAL POSITION, OR TAKE AWAY MY BEST DEFENSE AGAINST FLIES, AND MOSQUITOS BY CUTTING OFF MY TAIL
I CAN NOT TELL YOU WHEN I AM THIRSTY, SO GIVE ME CLEAN COOL WATER OFTEN. I CAN NOT TELL YOU IN WORDS WHEN I AM SICK, SO WATCH ME THAT BY SIGNS YOU MAY KNOW MY CONDITION. GIVE ME ALL POSSIBLE SHELTER FROM THE HOT SUN, AND PUT A BLANKET ON ME, NOT WHEN I AM WORKING , BUT WHEN I AM STANDING IN THE COLD. NEVER PUT A FROSTY BIT IN MY MOUTH, FIRST WARM IT BY HOLDING IT A MOMENT IN YOUR HANDS.
I TRY TO CARRY YOU AND YOUR BURDENS WITHOUT A MURMUR, AND WAIT LONG HOURS OF THE DAY OR NIGHT.
WITHOUT THE POWER TO CHOOSE MY SHOES OR MY PATH, I SOMETIMES FALL ON HARD PAVEMENTS WHICH I HAVE OFTEN PRAYED MIGHT NOT BE OF WOOD, BUT OF SUCH A NATURE AS TO GIVE ME A SAFE AND SURE FOOTING.
----REMEMBER---
THAT I MUST BE READY AT ANY MOMENTTO LOSE MY LIFE IN YOUR SERVICE.
AND FINALLY----O MY MASTER--WHEN MY USEFUL STRENGTH IS GONE DO NOT TRUN ME OUT TO STARVE OR FREESE,OR SELL ME TO SOME CRUEL OWNER TO BE SLOWLY TORTURED AND STRAVED TO DEATH;
BUT---DO THOU MY MASTER---TAKE MY LIFE IN THE KINDEST WAY; AND --YOUR GOD--WILL REWARD YOU HERE AND AFTER.
YOU WILL NOT CONSIDER ME IRRERENT IF I ASK THIS IN THE NAME OF --HIM-- WHO WAS ---BORN IN A STABLE.
AMEN
