NEVEB MIND'S CONDITIOH. 431 



occasion, and I would cheerfully give a hundred dollars 

 .if they did not start- in the race. They will be a great 

 bother in scoring, which to have as little of as possible 

 will suit us the best. I have put some money on, which 

 you can have a share of, but I must confess that I look 

 on this race with a good deal of suspicion. If even they 

 do beat, I would be glad to wager that they cannot do it 

 again in a week or ten days from now; so there will be 

 this advantage, they will underrate us, and perhaps give 

 us a "better thing" when we are in proper condition. Your 

 note informed me, that Never Mind recovered from the trial 

 better than you anticipated. How is he feeling to-day ? 



PUPIL. As finely as possible, and I was indeed greatly 

 surprised at the manner he recovered from the trial. He 

 was in no hurry to eat the mash that was prepared for 

 him, so I only gave him half the amount at two o'clock. 

 He took his walk in good enough spirits, and as soon as 

 he heard the feed room unlocked, he could hardly wait, he 

 was so impatient to get his supper. I have given him a 

 good deal of slow work, and the brush you directed me to 

 give was about as fast trotting as I ever saw. You will 

 see t how he will tail the field to-day, provided there is any- 

 thing in that is fast enough to collar him. I have more 

 hopes of his lasting than you have, as I do not look for 

 him to be kept on his tip-toes in this race, as when he was 

 going with the galloper, and the track is a good deal 

 harder than the one we have been training on, which will 

 lessen the labor, even if it does try the legs and feet. 



PEECEPTOE. I hope you will not be disappointed, though 

 I am quite sure you will find more speed to contend 

 against than you at present are calculating on. From the 

 parties who are supporting these horses, I am confident 

 that they are good ones, as they are not the ones to put 

 the amount up they have already invested, unless they 

 have a good thing, and although they fight shy of each 



