" MILD AS MOONBEAMS." 291 



of such-and such men, and they have always behaved 

 well and fairly. Now they would not say they were 

 treated fairly if the horses they bought did not 

 GENERALLY answer their expectations ; and they 

 would be right in saying so, because they would not, 

 like the bad judge, buy what by nature was inappro- 

 priate to the purpose wanted : so the not suiting 

 would proceed from some hidden fault or failing, not 

 from the evident want of judgment in the selection. 

 The dealer knows this, and consequently, knowing 

 that in such cases he has no excuse, is very careful 

 in selling. Such men barring the risk inseparable 

 from purchasing untried horses, generally do not 

 get disappointed : when they are, they are sensible 

 and liberal enough to blame, if blame is due, and not 

 to censure where censure would be injustice. In the 

 event of a horse not answering their purpose, they 

 would send for or go to the dealer, and something 

 like the following remarks would probably take 

 place : " Well, Collins," (we will say Collins as well 

 as any other name,) " that horse does not turn out as 

 well as WE expected." " I'm sorry for it, my Lord :" 

 (in this case he is so :) "I hope you found him as 

 near as I could judge what I told your Lordship." 

 " Yes, I have no fault to find ; he is sound and quiet, 

 and goes well ; but he is a jade, and, after going a 

 dozen miles, he is not worth a farthing." (Mem. one 

 of the blessings of buying young fresh horses!) 

 " I shall be most happy, my Lord, to change him for 

 any thing in my stables ; or, if there is nothing there 

 your Lordship likes, I will look out immediately, and 

 you will perhaps be kind enough, my Lord, to drive 

 the brute till I have got what will suit your Lord- 



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