262 OCCASIONAL HAPPY THOUGHTS. 



after recovering from such a stumble as would have ruined 

 less gifted creatures for life, he resumed his former rumina- 

 tive trot. The Cabman's knowledge of short cuts w^ould 

 have been most praiseworthy, if in every case the short cuts 

 had not been blocked up by coal-carts empty, coal-carts 

 full, carts without coal, carts with sacks, and trucks ; also 

 cabs, meeting us where there was only room for one at a 

 time, which disputed the ground inch by inch, and before 

 which we had to retire. The Strawberry Dun performed 

 this graceful act to perfection. It only wanted music to 

 have made it worthy of a circus. 



I paid this Cabman his exact fare, and he asked me, 

 "How's one to live if one only has his 'xact fare?" I did 

 not stop to answer the conundrum. 



Another horse was what I believe is called " a weed." He 

 was long, bony, lanky, rat-tailed, and long-legged. He 

 looked like pace. When I was seated in the cab, however, 

 he went either as if he were of an inquiring disposition, and 

 wanted to see what sort of fare he was taking, or as if he 

 had a stiff neck, and was obliged to keep his head ahvays 

 turned quite round to the right. Perhaps this was his merit, 

 and he saw what to avoid in front and at the back. If so, 

 he went cautiously, and walked round the corners. 



In fact we walked the greater part of the time. When I 

 remonstrated, the man said, " He'd ha' gone faster if he'd 

 known as I was in a hurry ; " but they always have some 

 answer, and it is surprising if it isn't of the sort to which 

 repartee is impossible in the mouth of 



Your Representative. 



