PURCHASE AND PRELIMINARIES 



reciprocate, be he Jew or Gentile, " Gyp " or 

 genuine. Say to him, " I want a horse for such 

 and such purposes, and place myself absolutely 

 in your hands, save that I shall have a veteri- 

 narian to decide whether the animal is practically 

 sound, and reasonably likely to remain so in the 

 work for which I intend him. I know absolutely 

 nothing about horses " (it will cost you a struggle 

 to acknowledge this, but never mind, it 's no secret, 

 for the dealer knew it the moment you walked 

 into the yard, and he will think a lot of you for 

 being man enough to acknowledge what to him 

 was perfectly plain) , " and shall be guided by you 

 not only in the selection, but in the subsequent 

 treatment of my purchase. I expect a frank 

 description of all my acquisition's shortcomings, 

 that I may allow for them." Now, if that dealer 

 can fit you out, be sure he will do it to the very 

 best of his ability, and take pride in so doing. 

 On the other hand, if you take Uncle John along, 

 that worthy old gentleman hops around the beast 

 produced for his inspection, like an old crow 

 around a bone, and makes occasional verbal pecks 

 in this fashion : " Six years, hey? Had his mouth 

 fixed, likely. I '11 bet he won't see ten again. 

 What's that on his off hock? Nothing! D'ye 



5 



