282 THE SUNNY SIDE. 



pulls his hat over his drooping brow : he seeks, yet 

 fears to seek, his once happy home ; and yet he must 

 for what ? to tell his wife and children they are 

 houseless, and he a beggar ! 



May no such result ever happen to the true Sports- 

 man ! Thank God ! it rarely does ; for he neither 

 allows his imprudence or his greediness of gain to 

 lead him to such extremities. Let us turn, then, to 

 the more cheering contemplation of him who has 

 fairly and honourably won his thousands by the 

 superior excellence of his favourite horse. If there is 

 one brighter moment than another in a man's sporting 

 career, it is the moment when he receives the con- 

 gratulations of his friends at his success ; and cordially 

 and sincerely that man is ever congratulated of whom 

 it is known he always " runs to win." To a man thus 

 situated, what price could be too great for a faithful 

 likeness of his winning horse! With what honest 

 pride does he see that likeness decorating the walls of 

 so many of the true lovers of our national sports ! 

 Whatever we may do that is laudable in itself would 

 lose half its charm if the celebrity of it was as transient 

 as its achievement. Whilst pride is one of the attri- 

 butes of the human heart, the having our little 

 triumphs chronicled and perpetuated gives them a 

 ten-fold value in our eyes, and encourages us to fresh 

 efforts ; for though Mr. Coriolanus might pretend to 

 be angered at hearing his " nothings monstered," that 

 gentleman being defunct, we may fairly allow a little 

 proper praise, and eke a little well-timed flattery is 

 not always absolutely disagreeable. 



That there are numberless men connected with the 

 turf who feel no further interest in the horses than 

 mere pecuniary gain or loss creates, is true, pity 'tis 



