THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 77 



trouble and inconvenience, and adopted this very obvious 

 and timely precaution, taking especial care to avoid 

 getting him chilled by standing still, and getting him, if 

 possible, for a few moments on to straw in some stable or 

 shed, for most important purposes, it would have made 

 just all the difference. 



Patience, gentle reader, do not cry, " hold hard ; we 

 all know enough, and you have said more than enough, 

 about this gruelhng system." Truly you do all know 

 enough about gruelhng yovu" horses, in one common ac- 

 ceptation of the phrase ; but, if you do know enough, you 

 do not practise enough of the care which extends beyond 

 the day, — that day fraught with exhilaration and excite- 

 ment sufficient to quell thought for the future. You may 

 find, however, that not only sufficient for that day, but for 

 the rest of the season, may be the evil thereof. You are 

 too apt, especially if you have had your own mouthful, and 

 ht your cigar, to arm yourself with the sophistry that the 

 sooner you get your horse to his own stable — (videlicet, 

 yourself to your own fire -side) — the better ; and if you 

 do take a glass of cherry bounce, in passing some friendly 

 domicile, it is useless delay to dismount. Commend me 

 to the man who, on being offered refreshment for himself, 

 accepts it only in favour of his horse, and snatches his 

 own crust and " go down " in the intervals of five minutes' 

 attendance upon the animal which has borne him, and 

 will repay his attention by bearing him again well 



