IN SEARCH OF A HORSE. ^ 4o 



week ; and could I do less than make up their depre- 

 ciated value ? Two kind friends offered to oblige me 

 with cattle of their own. Luckily I had the pru- 

 dence to decline both offers. The glance of an eye 

 told me they were lame ; I civilly regretted that 

 they were not "the sort of horse I wanted;" and 

 both broke their knees within a month ! 



And now, gentle reader, for my inferences a la 

 Martineau. Whenever you see a horse advertised 

 for sale, avoid him as you would a pestilence. If he 

 is "a sweet goer," depend upon it you will be gent- 

 ly dropped into the sweetest kennel in St. Giles's ; 

 if he is "well suited for a charger," he is sure to 

 charge a hay-stack and a park of artillery with 

 equal determination ; if "he never shies or stum- 

 bles," the chances are three to one that he is stone 

 blind, or cannot quit a walk ; " the best horse in 

 England" is to a certainty the worst in London; 

 when "parted with for no fault," it means that he 

 is sold for a hundred ; if " the reason will be satis- 

 factorily explained," it may be taken for granted 

 that tha master has absconded, either for stealing 

 him or robbing his creditors; when "built like a 

 castle," he will move like a church-steeple; if 

 5 



