I50 OCCASIONAL HAPPY THOUGHTS. 



an idiot as to tiust one of his children on Gazelle's back) — 

 " and,"' he adds, " I have driven and ridden her, and she 

 suits me down to the ground." 



"Down to the ground" is an unfortunate phrase. O 

 Jelfer, if you only knew how nearly I had been shot over 

 that Chestnut's head, right between his ears, with only 

 the crown of my hat between me and the hard road ! But 

 no matter — 



Happy Thought. — After this note of praise, Jelfer can' I 

 bring an action against me. If he did, I remember having 

 heard a Barrister say that there's nothing in law so di.^cult 

 to prove as ?nala Jides in horse-dealing ; only I'm sure I 

 should look so guilty, that the Judge would give it against 

 me out of hand. However, that danger is past. Jelfer's 

 letter continues — " It'll just do for my wife to drive about 

 Tunbridgc Wells in a' low basket-chaise." 



Heavens ! If there is one sort of vehicle more certain to 

 bring out Gazelles failings it is a low basket-chaise. In 

 such a trap you have no purchase over the animal, and 

 Gazelle wants as much holding up as a fantoccini doll. In 

 fact, if I dared say so, she is not unlike the "magic donkey" 

 which we used to see in toy-shops at Christmas-time. I 

 think I shall take in the Tunbridge Wells local paper, to 

 see if anything happens to Mrs. Jelfer. 



yelfer''s Letter. — " You will have the Grey in the course 

 of this afternoon. He's been doing nothing for some time, 

 and he's a bit too fat and v/heezy ; but your work'il soon get 

 him into condition a^ain." 



