Purch ase of Horses. 125 



cerely and honestly recommends one which, were 

 he to drive, feed, and house, there can be no 

 doubt would prove all that is desired. But, 

 alas ! as soon as the new purchase is made, the 

 elated proprietor, well posted in all the good 

 qualities of the creature, takes him to his own 

 stable. No attention is paid to the different 

 characters which exist in contradistinction to the 

 one just left ; and, it may be, a case of cold, 

 influenza, or something worse, soon appears. 

 The feeding may be different, and produce 

 colic, and even death. If, however, he escape all 

 these, the owner rides or drives out, in order that 

 his good lady may give her opinion. 



Afterwards a friend in the next street is ap- 

 pealed to, with probably fifty others, and at last 

 a friend in the country. All are particularly 

 knowing, or at least appear to be so. One sees 

 a spavin, another a splint, a third thinks he is 

 lame ; a fourth thinks he hears a slight noise, as 

 from roaring or whistling. And thus the game 

 goes on, the owner fishing for compliments upon 

 his judgment and selection, while none of the 

 persons consulted are disposed to pay any, but 

 feel, if they had been purchasers, the animal 

 would not have been selected by them. 



In order to detect the lameness or the fancied 

 sounds so offensive to the ear, it is suggested that 

 the animal shall be galloped. The owner tries 

 his best, but fails ; the friend who suggested the 

 defect also mounts or takes the reins, and pell 



