564 ROAD HORSES. 



read in scripture, and a stranger to heroics, 

 particularly when accompanied with tragic 

 EMPPHASis and elocution. John, not 

 knowing, and not being able to divine, the 

 meaningof this majestic injunction, scratched 

 his head, and, tremblingly, re-echoed, '* Si- 

 Si-R !" — '' When my steed has put a period 

 to his provender, produce him/' — '' Upon 

 my soul, Sir, I don't know what you mean T* 

 — '' Why, you scoundrel ! when my horse 

 has eaten his corn, bring him out of the sta- 

 ble.'* Whether he had really been put in 

 possession of any corn at all, was matter of 



no PERSONAL CONCERN to pOOr WlGNELL, 



provided he had the immaculate assurance of 

 the ostler, that it was all consumed ; and 

 this, it is much to be regretted, is the 

 invariable custom of numbers, who, des- 

 stitute of the finer feelings, and perfect 

 strangers to the enlivening rays of hu- 

 manity, are open to no other sensation 

 than the predominant gratification of self- 

 preservation. 



Returning, however, to tlie management 

 of Road Horses, \vhether on a journey of 



