MR. FARQUHARSON. 219 



for over fifty years entirely at his own expense; and 

 did the thing thoroughly. His peculiar view of 

 facing was, that horses should be neither broken nor 

 trained until they were four years old. Moreover, 

 he used to race mostly for small races; and as he 

 never had many that he trained, few races fell to his 

 share. He had Tlie Maid of Cadiz, Bacchanal, and 

 others. 



He was in all he undertook a thoroughly practical 

 man; and as a breeder of sheep would attend the 

 fairs in person. Amongst the sheep fairs he usually 

 attended was the August one at Bridford. Here it 

 was that for the first time he was taunted with asking 

 too much for his flock. It was in this way. The 

 fair was bad, and the prices got worse as the day 

 advanced. Early in the morning, for he was generally 

 at the fair by the side of his sheep as soon as most 

 people, he was asked by an uncouth dealer the price 

 he would take for his ewes. On naming his figure, 

 he was told it was too much, and the man bid him six 

 shillings per head less. The dealer, as is often done, 

 sent half a dozen of his emissaries to inquire the price 

 again and again, on each occasion to bid a little less 

 than before, all bids being, of course, declined. Just 

 before the breaking-up of the fair, when Mr. Far- 

 quharson was about to return home, his friend of the 

 morning came again, and thus addressed him : 



' Well, farmer, you have not sold those little ewes 

 of yours. You had better take the price I bid you in the 



