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Nodoubtahorsefairisaveryamusingplacetothosewhohavenothingtolose;atanyrate,thereisplentytosee.
Longstringsofyounghorsesoutofthecountry,freshfromthemarshes;anddrovesofshaggylittleWelshponies,nohigherthanMerrylegs;andhundredsofcarthorsesofallsorts,someofthemwiththeirlongtailsbraidedupandtiedwithscarletcord;andagoodmanylikemyself,handsomeandhigh-bred,butfallenintothemiddleclass,throughsomeaccidentorblemish,unsoundnessofwind,orsomeothercomplaint.
Thereweresomesplendidanimalsquiteintheirprime,andfitforanything;theywerethrowingouttheirlegsandshowingofftheirpacesinhighstyle,astheyweretrottedoutwithaleadingrein,thegroomrunningbytheside.
Butroundinthebackgroundtherewereanumberofpoorthings,sadlybrokendownwithhardwork,withtheirkneesknucklingoverandtheirhindlegsswingingoutateverystep,andthereweresomeverydejected-lookingoldhorses,withtheunderliphangingdownandtheearslyingbackheavily,asiftherewerenomorepleasureinlife,andnomorehope;thereweresomesothinyoumightseealltheirribs,andsomewitholdsoresontheirbacksandhips.
Theseweresadsightsforahorsetolookupon,whoknowsnotbuthemaycometothesamestate.
Therewasagreatdealofbargaining,ofrunningupandbeatingdown;andifahorsemayspeakhismindsofarasheunderstands,Ishouldsaythereweremoreliestoldandmoretrickeryatthathorsefairthanaclevermancouldgiveanaccountof.
Iwasputwithtwoorthreeotherstrong,useful-lookinghorses,andagoodmanypeoplecametolookatus.
Thegentlemenalwaysturnedfrommewhentheysawmybrokenknees;thoughthemanwhohadmesworeitwasonlyaslipinthestall.
Thefirstthingwastopullmymouthopen,thentolookatmyeyes,thenfeelallthewaydownmylegs,andgivemeahardfeeloftheskinandflesh,andthentrymypaces.
Itwaswonderfulwhatadifferencetherewasinthewaythesethingsweredone.
Somediditinarough,offhandway,asifonewasonlyapieceofwood;whileotherswouldtaketheirhandsgentlyoverone'sbody,withapatnowandthen,asmuchastosay,"Byyourleave."
OfcourseIjudgedagooddealofthebuyersbytheirmannerstomyself.
Therewasoneman,Ithought,ifhewouldbuyme,Ishouldbehappy.
Hewasnotagentleman,noryetoneoftheloud,flashysortthatcallthemselvesso.
Hewasratherasmallman,butwellmade,andquickinallhismotions.
Iknewinamomentbythewayhehandledme,thathewasusedtohorses;hespokegently,andhisgrayeyehadakindly,cheerylookinit.
Itmayseemstrangetosay—butitistrueallthesame—thattheclean,freshsmelltherewasabouthimmademetaketohim;nosmellofoldbeerandtobacco,whichIhated,butafreshsmellasifhehadcomeoutofahayloft.
Heofferedtwenty-threepoundsforme,butthatwasrefused,andhewalkedaway.
Ilookedafterhim,buthewasgone,andaveryhard-looking,loud-voicedmancame.
Iwasdreadfullyafraidhewouldhaveme;buthewalkedoff.
Oneortwomorecamewhodidnotmeanbusiness.
Thenthehard-facedmancamebackagainandofferedtwenty-threepounds.
Averyclosebargainwasbeingdriven,formysalesmanbegantothinkheshouldnotgetallheasked,andmustcomedown;butjustthenthegray-eyedmancamebackagain.
Icouldnothelpreachingoutmyheadtowardhim.Hestrokedmyfacekindly.
"Well,oldchap,"hesaid,"Ithinkweshouldsuiteachother.I'llgivetwenty-fourforhim."
"Saytwenty-fiveandyoushallhavehim."
"Twenty-fourten,"saidmyfriend,inaverydecidedtone,"andnotanothersixpence—yesorno?"
"Done,"saidthesalesman;"andyoumaydependuponitthere'samonstrousdealofqualityinthathorse,andifyouwanthimforcabworkhe'sabargain."
Themoneywaspaidonthespot,andmynewmastertookmyhalter,andledmeoutofthefairtoaninn,wherehehadasaddleandbridleready.
HegavemeagoodfeedofoatsandstoodbywhileIateit,talkingtohimselfandtalkingtome.
HalfanhourafterwewereonourwaytoLondon,throughpleasantlanesandcountryroads,untilwecameintothegreatLondonthoroughfare,onwhichwetraveledsteadily,tillinthetwilightwereachedthegreatcity.
Thegaslampswerealreadylighted;therewerestreetstotheright,andstreetstotheleft,andstreetscrossingeachother,formileuponmile.
Ithoughtweshouldnevercometotheendofthem.
Atlast,inpassingthroughone,wecametoalongcabstand,whenmyridercalledoutinacheeryvoice,"Good-night,governor!"
"Halloo!"criedavoice."Haveyougotagoodone?"
"Ithinkso,"repliedmyowner.
"Iwishyouluckwithhim."
"Thankyou,governor,"andherodeon.Wesoonturneduponeofthesidestreets,andabouthalfwayupthatweturnedintoaverynarrowstreet,withratherpoor-lookinghousesononeside,andwhatseemedtobecoach-housesandstablesontheother.
Myownerpulledupatoneofthehousesandwhistled.Thedoorflewopen,andayoungwoman,followedbyalittlegirlandboy,ranout.Therewasaverylivelygreetingasmyriderdismounted.
"Now,then,Harry,myboy,openthegates,andmotherwillbringusthelantern."
Thenextminutetheywereallstandingroundmeinasmallstable-yard.
"Ishegentle,father?"
"Yes,Dolly,asgentleasyourownkitten;comeandpathim."
Atoncethelittlehandwaspattingaboutallovermyshoulderwithoutfear.Howgooditfelt!
"Letmegethimabranmashwhileyourubhimdown,"saidthemother.
"Do,Polly,it'sjustwhathewants;andIknowyou'vegotabeautifulmashreadyforme."
"Sausagedumplingandappleturnover!"shoutedtheboy,whichsetthemalllaughing.
Iwasledintoacomfortable,clean-smellingstall,withplentyofdrystraw,andafteracapitalsupperIlaydown,thinkingIwasgoingtobehappy.
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