20 



was upwards of sixteen months after his intended 

 kindness to me before I found an opportunity even 

 to do that. At the end of the Autumn, however, of 

 1862, I went one Sunday to the Church Mr. Weather- 

 side patronized w^hen in town. No consequence what 

 Church, it was nearly thorough-bred, carried a very 

 good head, had a straight back, but a slight curb on 

 the near aisle. On leaving, I was accosted unex- 

 pectedly thus : " Spurs, I have been inquiring for you 

 the last fortnight. I have a horse at Great Gloom I 

 don't know what to do with ; could you accompany 

 me there to-morrow, I can put you up very com- 

 fortably ? " 



Standing as I was, at a Church door, I replied 

 (Mr. Weatherside being only a few yards in front of 

 me) "I am timid to talk of horses, but promise to 

 treat me to a little pure milk, pure cream, and pure 

 butter, not one of which have I ever tasted in London 

 the last five years, though I have paid heavily for the 

 same, and I'll be Simon Pure your humble servant." 



We went ; the horse was shewn me ; Chameleon 

 was his name. " Who have you consulted ? " I 

 asked *. 



" Oh, there's nobody here to consult, and if there 



* Neither of the three gents mentioned ever paid for a licence. 



