THE STUD VERSUS THE POCKET. 29 



there are many ; but there are also many, who, 

 intending to be the most indulgent masters living, 

 are, from not knowing what is and what is not 

 kindness to animals, quite the reverse of what 

 they wish to be. 



I have an acquaintance for whom I purchased 

 a very clever horse, and, when in proper condition, 

 a very strikingly-handsome one. In this sort of 

 condition he was last spring, when I sent him 

 to his present owner. No man was more disposed 

 to be kind than his new master; still when I saw 

 the horse in his stable, only two months afterwards, 

 he was no more the same horse than he was the 

 Hero, or any other. He was one of the hand- 

 somest coloured greys I ever saw, except Old Isaac, 

 who was precisely the same. When I sent him 

 to his new master he shone like a bottle, was as 

 round as one, and all the muscles in their right 

 place. His mane and tail, both of which were par- 

 ticularly handsome, looked like spun glass; and 

 his legs, which were remarkably good, felt and 

 looked clean and firm as iron. When I next saw 

 him, his coat was dead as a scrubbing-brush, and 

 in many parts somewhat of the same colour ; his 

 mane and tail a kind of dust colour, and felt as if 

 they had been washed with greasy water; his 

 muscles flabby, and his legs filled and flaccid ; in 

 fact, if he had bought the horse of a dealer, and 

 had given a hundred for him, the man would 



