FOUNDER OF HIS RACE 51 



CHAPTER VH. 



IN WHICH MISTRESS LLOYD, OF MARYLAND, GIVES TRUE 

 HIS FIRST RIBBAND. 



One sunny September morning, when the weather was 

 clear and fine and the trees were waving their crisp, 

 gay-tinted leaves over the grass-bordered roadways lead- 

 ing to the fair-gronnds, the horses were blanketed and 

 led towards the place of exhibition, for this was the great 

 opening of the Hartford Fair, and many had come from 

 as far as New York and Boston to attend it. There 

 was much prancing and side-stepping among the horses 

 after a fine breakfast to put them in a good humor. 



True had been exhibited once at a small fair in Spring- 

 field and knew a little of what was expected of him, 

 but of course this was a much greater occasion and a 

 sensation of slight nervousness and anticipation held his 

 heart. 



Some of the younger horses were ill-mannered ; they 

 bit at their grooms or snorted and showed their teeth 

 rudely, which astonished True, for he had been taught 

 to be polite always. Some of them grew very excited 

 and some knew they might change owners, and receive 

 prizes for this trait or that. It was a day long to be 

 remembered by them all. 



What a scene met their eyes when, at last, they were 

 in sight of the Grounds ! Early, as it was, there were 

 more men assembled together than True had ever seen 

 and they made a point of all talking at once, which con- 

 fused the horses no little ; they shouted at the tops 

 of their voices, too, as if everybody were stone deaf. 



