152 Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



casual acquaintance, as safe for family and ju\e- 

 nile use, and that they will endow the beast of 

 the moment with all the virtues in the calendar. 

 Not only the " gipsy " dealers will do this, but the 

 reputable men of high standing in their calling ; and 

 as a general thing they honestly believe what thev 

 say, for the reason that, in their Jiaiids, the proffered 

 quadruped displays the mildness of the lamb, and 

 the wisdom of the serpent ; nor can they make allow- 

 ances for the bullying propensities of the creature 

 which, recognising and submitting at once to their 

 experienced handling, proves always tractable with 

 them; yet, immediately that a woman or child is 

 in charge, begins, not improbably, experiments to 

 see how far he may safely proceed in insubordination 

 and in mischief. 



The " general purpose " horse is not unusually a 

 " no purpose " horse : a brute who, failing signally at 

 any of the specialties, is thus characterised because 

 he has learned a little of the various branches he has 

 essayed — and that little very badly. A " family 

 horse " is certain, for the same reason, to be a misfit 



