(BVQ Bob. 73 



forgotten, not, I fancy, forgetful of the past — for 

 these I grieve. 



But the end of the chapter must come to us all ; 

 and the tale of an old favourite (save the mark), like 

 his life, perhaps, is very nearly spun out — my only 

 remaining wish now being that I may either die 

 gamely in my traces, as so many good horses have 

 done before me, or else be led from my present 

 rough lodgings direct to the dreary knacker's yard. 

 I, " Goldmine," who was never to be sold ! 



But never to be sold, most forbearing of readers, 

 you will agree with me, could have been more cor- 

 rectly and fully rendered thus : "Never to be sold so 

 long as I could carr}^ my 13 stone 7 master brilliantly 

 in the first flight, or render him some other substan- 

 tial service, and thereby save him from incurring the 

 expense of purchasing another horse to fill my place." 



Tush ! it sickens me to recall his words ; and I ask 

 you, if you have followed my tale thus far, whether 

 you are altogether surprised at m}^ conduct this 

 morning, now that you know the not uncommon 

 history of a good old hunter. 



'' Now then, ' Growler ' " (he stands next stall but 

 one, confound him), "stop that crib-biting, can't yer, 

 and let a respectable hansom 'oss go to sleep." 



