THE NAPPY HORSE, OR JIBBER 95 



horse is passed along to another of their friends. Then 

 the horse gets worse, having the satisfaction of mastering 

 each and every owner. I was going to say " master/' 

 but this would be wrong, so I will put " owner." 



During my travels I once heard of a mare for sale. 

 The owner, a horse-dealer, had been upset, and had 

 notified his intention of selling her to various " hangers- 

 on " who touted to find customers (sometimes these 

 " would-be friends " are called " dragsmen "). 



One of these gentlemen, thinking I was somewhat 

 simple, by my general demeanour, approached me and 

 asked if I wished to buy a real good mare. I said, 

 " Yes, I always like to buy a good one " ; and so I was 

 given the address of the horse-dealer. When I arrived 

 it was dark, and the mare was turned out in a field. I 

 had, of course, found out by this time the true facts, 

 otherwise I should have waited till daylight before I 

 made my purchase. However, the mare became my 

 property ; she was everything that could be desired, 

 according to the dealer ; in fact, she was perfect so he 

 said and I let him induce me to buy her. I knew he 

 was determined to sell her because she would not pull 

 his trap out of the yard, and she used to " run back " 

 and lead Mr. Dealer a pretty fine dance. Of course, 

 he did not know that I knew the truth about her. So I 



