THE t)\KK-<HK€K. J47 



to drop into a gentle doze when a sound of distress 

 from the rich horse caused his plain neighhor to open 

 his eyes wide and to regard the former witli considera- 

 ble curiosity, which at length expressed itself in' this 

 wise: ''You look very gay, neighbor; are you not com- 

 fortable with your fine silver-plated harness and shiny 

 trappings?" 



"'I can hear you, though I can scarcely see you," 

 answered the poor rich horse, ''for my harness, al- 

 though undoubtedly very handsome, is a perfect tor- 

 ture to me. You can see for yourself how my head is 

 tied up by a new-fangled contrivance they call an over- 

 check. My eyes are almost blinded by the glare of 

 the sun, and my neck aches, and iny head throbs, and 

 I am really quite miserable." 



"I don't know much about check-reins," bluntly 

 said the rich poor horse, "and I have never hauled 

 fine ladies around in their carriage. I supposed, by 

 the way I have seen them petting you with their soft 

 V hite hands, that they wouldn^t want you to be dress- 

 ed up so you would be uncomfortable or suffer by it.'' 



"0, they don't think," sighed the poor rich horse, 

 "they doubtless suppose I have a very fine time with 

 nothing to do but draw this pretty doll's wagon. If 

 1 could only have my choice I would change places with 

 you, I wotlld rather haul a dirt-wagon without any 

 check-rein on than to be dressed up in this fine style 

 aixd suffer as I do." 



"Y'ou'd find the dirt wagon pretty heavy hauling," 

 replied the rich poor horse. 



