ABOUT BUYING A HORSE. 17 



I could almost have said to them, " Why on Earth didn't 

 you write to me, and tell me that horses were going for 

 nothing?" But, of course, the evident reply would have 

 been, "Well, how the dickens could we feell you wanted 

 such a thing ? ^' 



" But," again I feel inclined to say, " My dear fellows, 

 when there are such good things going begging, why not 

 always buy them for me f " 



Happy Thought. — I do say this to two friends. One is 

 going to Devonshire, the other to Norfolk. The latter says 

 he often sees the sort of thing I want for twenty pounds. 



"Do you?" I exclaim, and grasp his hand warmly. 

 " Then, look here, when you see one at that price don't wait 

 to write, but snap him up — buy him for me. I can trust 

 your judgment perfectly." 



He accepts this carte blanche commission. He doesn't ask 

 for the twenty pounds to take with him so as to be ready. 



Happy TJioitght. — Better not mention this part of the 

 subject. W^hat's twenty pounds? 



I look upon this as settled. Settled, that is, with Swopler, 

 who's gone to Norfolk. And settled also with Tom Bow- 

 man, who says that, " when he's among the farmers in 

 Devonshire, he often sees just the thing 1 want, to be got for 

 twenty-five or thirty, down on the nail." 



Happy Thought, — Give him carte blanche^ and let him 

 catch a farmer on the nail. 



c 



