17 



He was offered to me for fifty guineas ; the price 

 was certainly moderate for a horse of such extraor- 

 dinary appearance, and I promptly and thankfully 

 accepted the offer. He was brought home in high 

 condition, and I immediately set him to work. For 

 about a week all went on well ; I never was so 

 gaily mounted in my life : I might have sold the 

 horse ten times over for double the money, but I 

 was too well pleased with my bargain. 



At the expiration of a week my groom began to 

 look crusty, and told me with a very long face that 

 he must be ill, for he refused his corn. I desired 

 him to wash out the manger. *' I have, Sir, but it 

 won't do." 



" Perhaps the corn is musty?" 



** It can't be that. Sir, for it only came in yes- 

 terday, and he won't touch the hay any more than 

 the oats." 



I tried him with the sweetest corn I could buy, 

 and every variety of hay, but in vain ; for three 

 days he eat nothing. I sent him to the Veterinary 

 College : his teeth were found to be sharp, and 

 they were filed down ; no other fault could be 

 discovered ; I took him home again, but feed he 

 would not. I sent him to livery, thinking that my 

 stables might possibly be in some way offensive 

 c 



