Purchase of Horses. 117 



?axwork itself! talk about simmertery, did you 

 ever see secli as that ? I'm blessed if I ever seed 

 sech a splendid carcass on sech strapping lims, 

 an', lor bless you, the money's nothink. See him 

 trot, sir ? why, he moves like a pony. Now, Bill, 

 where's your ginger ? look alive, my boy ; don't 

 keep the gentleman waiting." 



" Excuse me, sir/' I remarked, " you will 

 have the goodness to spare the animal the torture 

 about to be inflicted ; it affords me no gratifica- 

 tion, it will not enhance him one atom in my 

 estimation, and let him return to the stall, as his 

 qualities are not suitable for my purpose." 



Rather crestfallen, the dealer said, " All right, 

 sir, I'm sorry, but we'll show another." 



A second and a third were brought out, and 

 successively rejected, when the dealer remarked, 

 " You seem rayther queer to please, sir." " Not 

 at all, I assure you," was my reply. " Then why 

 can't you take these 'osses?" and he was about to 

 go off express again in canting description of 

 their virtues and other qualifications, when I cut 

 him short by saying, " Upon all occasions when 

 purchasing horses, I endeavour to obtain sound 

 animals, as they suit our purpose much better 

 I prefer them without spavins, ringbones, and 

 other prejudicial bony deposits in the neighbour- 

 hood of important joints, as the work they are 

 put to usually is sufficient to cause them to 

 appear soon enough." 



He flew into a wild and violent passion, and 



