THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 59 



friend if he knew of a saddle nag for sale ; the other 

 replied, that he himself had one to dispose of, which 

 he could recommend were it not for his unconquerable 

 dread of swine, which rendered him dangerous either 

 to ride or drive, and on which account alone he must 

 part with him. Mr. Grant was not a person to be dis- 

 mayed at trifles ; and being convinced he could remedy 

 this evil, he bought the horse, and set about his cure 

 by purchasing a sow and a large litter of pigs. The 

 horse, sow, and pigs, were all turned together into a 

 sort of barn stable, where they were never disturbed 

 except to give them food. The snortings, kickings, 

 squeakings and gruntings, were, for two or three days, 

 great and continual, and the consequence was, that 

 three or four of the younglings were demolished ; but 

 gradually the uproar ceased, and in a fortnight's time 

 the lady mother was to be seen under the belly of the 

 horse, busily employed in searching for the grains of 

 corn left in the straw, with her progeny as actively en- 

 gaged around her. Well might White, in his " Natural 

 History of Selbourne," remark, that " interest makes 

 strange friendships." 



With respect to the proper mode of administering 

 punishment in these cases, we will adduce another 

 example from Mr. Elaine : " At Harlow Bush Fair we 

 were struck with the appearance of a likely nag ; but 

 as we saw our salesman was evidently one of a sus- 

 picious order, we squared our expectations accordingly ; 



