19 



same reason ! I took an opportunity of asking 

 the gentleman from whom I bought him, how he 

 had brought him into such good condition? 



" Nothing more easy — I fed him for a month on 

 chopped clover, bran, and malt, fermented by a 

 little yeast." 



This is the way to pickle a horse for a friend ! 



Soon after the first edition appeared, I had an 

 opportunity of inquiring into the subsequent his- 

 tory of this horse. It is worth mentioning. He 

 continued sickly for several months : towards winter 

 he was sent down into the salt marshes, where he 

 remained nearly a year. On being taken up, his 

 stomach had recovered its tone ; he worked well 

 and fed heartily, and ever since he has proved a 

 useful horse. 



But to resume my narrative. I mounted many 

 a slug and many another dandy before 1 again ven- 

 tured to buy, and examined at least ten times more 

 than I mounted. The "picture of a horse" was 

 the next that fell to my lot. I wanted some- 

 thing more substantial, it is true ; but a " perfect 

 picture" has attractions for every eye, and mine 

 was of course captivated. 



" To be sold, for only half his value, under 

 peculiar circumstances, which will be satisfactorily 

 explained, a beautiful grey gelding. For strength 

 c2 



