22 BIPEDS AND QUADKtrPEDS. 



him well," as that would cost nothing ; but whether 

 he did or not, depend on it the hirer never took the 

 trouble to ascertain. If, on the other hand, he was 

 sent to the nearest public house, a quartern of corn 

 was ordered, but probably never given. If the host 

 entertained the animal, on the party leaving, sixpence, 

 with a smile that was intended to convey, " I sup- 

 pose you are not often in such luck," was given the 

 boy or man ; or if an ostler brought back the 

 equipage, the same miserable stipend was grudgingly 

 given, as the miserable quartern of oats and bit of 

 hay ordered had to be paid for. Keturning, the dust 

 and fatigue probably did compel the party to take 

 the promised tea at Cranford bridge, and the fear of 

 not otherwise being taken home in the expected 

 time, produced the order of another liberal feed of 

 a quartern of oats, unless the horse had been fed at 

 the friend's, which havingbeenow/ysome twenty- three 

 miles off, it was unanimously agreed he could want 

 no more. Of the result of this and their return over 

 the last few miles, I have already spoken. Such is 

 the fate, and such the treatment many a poor hired 



