52 JUSTIN MORGAN 



The women, however, stood quietly, and modestly at 

 one side in little sheltered booths where they displayed 

 in a most becoming- manner their handiwork : quilts, 

 with beautiful and appropriate names, and wonderful 

 pieces of hand-woven homespun and linen. Farther on 

 True espied piles of carrots, squashes and other delic- 

 ious things which would have made his mouth water had 

 he not been so bewildered by the noises. Music sounded 

 and set him dancing and showing his remarkable mus- 

 cles to advantage. 



Even Beautiful Bay, experienced as he must have 

 been in such events, seemed to be under the influence of 

 the lively atmosphere and curved his neck with spirit to 

 the admiration and respect of everyone who knew the 

 old horse. True felt a little anxiety for the result when 

 Beautiful Bay was led before the Judges, but this was 

 quite unnecessary ; he returned with a blue ribband on 

 his bridle and a very satisfied look in his eye. 



Then the Three-year-olds were called. 



True's temples throbbed ; there were many beautiful 

 horses there and, being modest, he had not guessed that 

 he was the most beautiful and meritorious of them all. 



When they were led out some bared their teeth, kicked 

 at each other, and misbehaved shockingly. The con- 

 trast between True's breeding and theirs was very 

 marked. When the Judges approached some of them 

 even went so far as to whirl for a kick ! 



True in his turn, however, stepped out briskly and 

 easily, small, lean head high, heavy black mane and tail 

 waving lightly in the morning breeze. But, all sud- 

 denly, the stupid groom jerked his halter sharply. 



Startled, the young horse flung himself backward. 



''Now, you young rascal !" cried the lout, grandly, as 

 if he were Mahommed himself, "None of your capers 

 with me!" 



