a horse’s troublous life. 
91 
A keen and grasping man, 
My owner thought to hurry on my age, 
And barbarously punched out the teeth 
Which erst are termed, by men well versed 
In matters scientiflcal—deciduous. 
Five years passed o’er—when, tempted 
By large bribe, my master sold me to a firm 
In Ednia’s city fair; and then 
My troubles ’gan in very earnest, 
And thronged around my head in manner unsupportable. 
I first was led to where a station stood, 
And in a horse-box placed with others 
As unsophisticated as myself. 
I then was frightened by a scream—unearthly, 
Devilish, as though poured our from throat 
Of monster from the deep; and thence 
Transported to my future home, 
And placed, ’midst many others for the night, 
In stable close and warm, 
Where exhalations foul my lungs assailed. 
And in the day in turn my work performed, 
Though scared by rumble, roar and rattle 
Of vehicles and shouts of men. 
My breath thus poisoned in the night, 
And in the day my nerves strung up to highest pitch, 
I soon succumbed to cold and fever low ; 
And after weeks of suffering, my strength returned; 
But, woe is me! I roarer was, as bad as ever paced the street. 
And now chicanery was brought to bear 
On my unlucky frame, by coper, who 
Possession of me gained. 
By means of tricks and dodges—as straps 
Fixed round my nose, and careful turning 
In the street when trotted—I was made 
To cheat many honest and industrious yokels, 
Who took a fancy to my noble form. 
Ah me! it would be tedious to recount 
The numerous tricks, so underhanded. 
By which a gang of copers managed to relieve 
The pockets of the innocents of their superfluous gold; 
How, falling lame on one fore-foot, 
In the other, beaned I was, to make 
My action equal, and thus deceive the purchaser; 
Then, failing in my wind, and made the 
Subject of a chronic cough, time after time 
I had forced down my throat, laudanum, 
Chloroform, and lard and shot. 
