" A BEGGARLY ACCOUNT OF EMPTY BOXES." 333 



but I do hope and believe he sees a something about 

 us that leads him to fear the thing won't do. 



Now, while my reader is playing with the Major 

 by seeing a horse out (for in our case the play is in 

 our hands), I will just reconnoitre a little, and first 

 take a peep into the corn-bin. I will bet a "pony" I 

 find a few oats in a sack : right ; it is so ; and a few 

 cobwebs in the corner of the bin — very unlike horses 

 having stood here the last two years ! Any signs of 

 carriages having been here lately ? No : no recent 

 signs of occupation. — Harness ? no ; but there is half 

 a truss of hay. In the stable is one saddle, a good 

 one, and a bridle for the Major, or any one wishing to 

 try a horse, and another for the Major to accompany 

 the Gentleman, besides a side-saddle, to show the 

 mare had been used to carry a lady. The make of 

 the latter shows me, or rather awakes my suspicions, 

 that no woman of fortune would use it, and that 

 consequently the beautiful dark broAvn mare never 

 carried it. As a guide to this, I take the liberty of 

 looking at the jyannel^ when (the Major was not awake 

 here) I find chestnut hairs on it. 



Quite satisfied, I shall now join my reader, who I 

 find enjoying the Major's distrustful appreciation of 

 him, and his fear that the hoaxer in this case is the 

 party hoaxed. I now cast an eye on the beautiful 

 Lady's mare, and no great judgment is probably re- 

 quired to cast an eye on the whereabouts the screw is 

 loose. Major perceives at once the game is up, and 

 says, " Perhaps, Gentlemen, you have seen enough of 

 the mare." As far as our powers in the laconic avail 

 us, we jointly call them up for his service, and the 

 " Quite enough, Major," is quite enough for him. He 



