HOESE-DEALING. 



Apropos of horse-dealing, Mr. , a dealer in rabbits, 



guinea-pigs and pigeons, who was in the habit of supplying 

 the Gardens with these articles of food for the animals, 

 knowing that a great number of horses also are required, 

 felt that he could extend his business by supplying horses 

 as well as other small fry. 



He thought to secure, in time, the patronage of the 

 Society, and then provide all the live stock used as food 

 for the animals in the collection. 



His first attempt was, for him, rather an unfortunate 

 speculation. He appeared one morning at my gate with 

 his first equine specimen, a poor, miserable, bony pony. 

 I at once told him it was not good enough for our 

 purposes, and he was much astonished when I refused to 

 have it at any price. He appealed to me by saying that it 

 was the first transaction of the kind he had ever attempted, 

 that he had kept the pony for a fortnight, had fed it 

 well in the hopes of fattening it, and that it had cost him 

 altogether about fifty shillings. Of course it was qiaite 

 optional on my part to believe this statement, and, turning 

 a deaf ear to his entreaties, I ordered him to take it away, 

 as I would not allow it to come into the Gardens, even as 

 a gift. A few days after he came with a supply of guinea- 

 pigs and pigeons, which I bought of him at the usual price 

 commonly paid for such commodities. After I had settled 

 with him, and he was leaving, I felt a little curious to 

 know what had become of his valuable pony. " Well," said 



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