93 



possibility of liis turning out a fair horse, though 

 any thing hke first rate T will promise him never 

 to he. It is true horses do, as they figuratively 

 say, ^go in all shapes,^ many -with very queer 

 shapes; but then they are, at the same time, going 

 ones : hut take this advice as a guide in purchas- 

 ing, — Never buy an untried horse that has not 

 strong indications of going in him, and even then 

 you must expect to be sometimes much disap- 

 pointed. 



* So pass we on : I only mean 

 To show the reed on which you lean, 

 Trusting to go a clippmg day, 

 On nag like yonder gaudy grey ; 

 Who, if my judgment tells aright, 

 Will never keep the field in sight, 

 Unless within the covert's bound 

 The game is chopped by skirtiug hound.' 



" Pray,^^ said I, " may I, by way of informa- 

 tion on a subject in which I own myself quite 

 astray, inquire for what earthly purpose the 

 brown next the grey is intended ? " 



^' Kow, really,^^ said my friend, " you are too 

 bad. Why, that horse has run and won two or 

 three steeple-chases.^^ 



" And a very proper chase for him to run," 

 said I, " if a legitimate one, for in that case the 

 steeple would wait for him ; but knowing a fox 

 would not, his owners, who I presume have been 



