ABOUT BUYING A HORSE. 77 



terrnpt Trott, to say, in a surprised tone, " Hulloa ! " to 

 intimate that Trott ought really to hold his reins tighter. 

 He doesn't, however ; he only says, 



" She's all right : never came down yet, and never will. 

 It's a slouchy way she has, but she's as safe as the Bank. 

 You were saying, Sir, about a Cow having the Chicken-pox. 

 Well, I s'pose you've heard of the Cow-pock ? " 



Of course I have ; but, at this minute, I can't recollect 

 when or where, or how, or in connection with what. I have 

 heard of it, and so I reply to Trott, as though a new light 

 had broken in upon me, " O, that's it, is it 1 " 



" That's it," says Mr. Trott, drily. He looks so straight 

 before him at the careless horse's ears, that I cannot see 

 whether he is slightly smiling, or not. 



If smiling, why does he smile ? 



I knovv', and at the same time I arrive at the reason of his 

 comparative reticence on the subject of animals and their 

 peculiarities. This branch of knowledge is his stock-in- 

 trade, to gain which he has had to attend Horsey, Cowy, 

 and Piggy Lectures, to pass an examination, and come out 

 v,-ith a degree. 



Hap/>y Thought.—'' B. A."— Bachelor of Animals. 



Or, if not with a degree, with a Diploma. Well, all this 

 has cost him money, and, evidently, why should he give me, 

 gratis, because I'm riding in a gig with him, such informa- 

 tion on Horses, Cows, and other quadrupeds, as would 

 enable me (after one drive with him, with a note-book and a 

 good memory) to set up as a Vet in a small way myself? 



