NERVOUSNESS. 147 



he buys, the habit Is at all thiies of such trifling 

 import as it may at first appear. 



NERVOUSNESS. 



Doubtless there may be many persons unac- 

 customed to horses, who will think this term in- 

 appropriate. Those who have been in the habit of 

 considering this as the special prerogative of fair 

 friends who labour under such constitutional in- 

 firmity, or, as is sometimes the case, think it in- 

 teresting to evince a little pretty timidity, will 

 perhaps reprobate the term altogether as applied 

 to horses. Men, however, who know the different 

 habits and failings of the animal, are quite aware 

 that being nervous is not only a very common, 

 but a most dangerous imperfection of tempera- 

 ment In him, and, what Is worse, one never to be 

 totally eradicated. 



A lady who would admire the harmlessness 

 and timidity of a pet lamb, might be disposed to 

 wish for a horse similarly disposed. She could 

 scarcely wish for a more dangerous animal for her 

 use ; for, in point of fact, the more timid the lady 

 the bolder should be the horse for her service, for 

 if under any circumstances both lady and horse 

 get alarmed, the chances are that some serious 

 catastrophe occurs. 



But putting ladies out of the question, unless 



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