ABOUT BUYING A HORSE. 69 



Flipster's Hatch. 



A boy, in a smock, stands at the horse's head, and Trott, 

 saying he wont be five minutes, gets down, and disappears 

 into a dirty yard. 



I suppose this is a Farm. " Fhpster's Hatch " as a name 

 is not suggestive of anything in particular, except, perhaps. 

 Chickens. " Colney Hatch," of course, is a Lunatic Asylum, 

 but not all Lunatics are kept under Hatches. There's such 

 a neglected air about the whole place, that I think it must be 

 a Farm in Chancery. 



Happy Thought. — Or a " Homestead " when the people 

 are not at home. 



A shabby man, with a shirt that ought to have be sent to 

 the wash three days ago, and with a black frock coat, black 

 waistcoat, black tie, and grey trousers, not a bit like a 

 farmer (but more like an undertaker who'd not quite finished 

 dressing), comes out from a side door, and, looking up at 

 me, says, 



" Come, and have a look at the Cow." 



This takes me so by surprise, that I can't help showing it. 



" I beg your pardon. What ? " 



" Come, and have a look at the Cow." 



Perhaps he means this for hospitality. Or perhaps it is 

 something curious which he wishes me, as a visitor, to see. 



Not to offend him, I reply, " Thank you, yes, with 

 pleasure." 



I like being shown over farms. Tliat is, I like getting up 

 as quickly as possible all the information I can on any subject 



