ABOUT BUYING A HORSE. 103 



[Capital title for Christmas Number of a Serial. Mr. 

 Jarvis's Legs. Subject to be divided into His Stockings, his 

 Boots, his SHppers, his Pantaloons, and so forth by popular 

 authors, every story sensational, with a picture of Mr. 

 Jarvis's legs on the cover — {Happy Thought) — write to Pop- 

 good and Groolly, Publishers, and propose it] 



Mr. Jarvis's legs are obtrusive and kick out, independent, 

 I am convinced, of the Jarvis above, who has nothing to do 

 Avith them ; in fact, his head's too far off, and too far back, 

 to trouble itself about looking after such mundane matters as 

 feet and legs ; and, as he advances towards me, legs first, he 

 realises just half the notion of Old Joe^s action in the once 

 popular nigger ballad where he {Ole Joe) was described 

 as "kicking up ahind and afore." Mr. Jarvis kicks up 

 "afore." 



He wears a gay-looking straw-hat, after a rather nautical 

 fashion. In fact, taking merely his head, whiskers, and hat, 

 and seeing just so much of him as would be visible in bed if 

 he had a bad cold and were obliged to keep his shoulders 

 covered, I should say, " This man is a sailor." 



Bringing him a little way out of bed, convalescent, and 

 making him sit up with his check coat on, I should say, 

 " This man is a sportsman." 



But producing him, entirely, with the independent legs in 

 tight trousers, and ending in long-toed boots, I should say, 

 " This man has a betting-book in his pocket, and he knows 

 more than meets the eye about two to one, bar one." 



Summing him up altogether, I am inclined to regard Mr. 

 Jarvis with suspicion. But by this time I should regard any 



