A HORSE FAIR
No doubt a horse fair is a very amusing place to those who have nothing
to lose; at any rate, there is plenty to see.
Long strings of young horses out of the country, fresh from the marshes,
and droves of shaggy little Welsh ponies, no higher than Merrylegs; and
hundreds of cart horses of all sorts, some of them with their long tails
braided up and tied with scarlet cord; and a good many like myself,
handsome and high-bred, but fallen into the middle class, through some
accident or blemish, unsoundness of wind, or some other complaint. There
were some splendid animals quite in their prime, and fit for anything,
they were throwing out their legs and showing off their paces in high
style, as they were trotted out with a leading rein, the groom running
by the side. But round in the background there were a number of poor
things, sadly broken down with hard work, with their knees knuckling
over and their hind legs swinging out at every step; and there were some
very dejected-looking old horses, with the under-lip hanging down and
the ears lying back heavily, as if there was no more pleasure in life,
and no more hope; there were some so thin you might see all their ribs,
and some with old sores on their backs and hips. These were sad sights
for a horse to look upon, who knows not but he may come to the same
state. I was put with some useful-looking horses, and a good many
people came to look at us. The gentlemen always turned from me when they
saw my broken knees; though the man who had me swore it was only a slip
in the stall.
The first thing was to pull my mouth open, then to look at my eyes, then
feel all the way down my legs and give me a hard feel of the skin and
flesh, and then try my paces. It was wonderful what a difference there
was in the way these things were done. Some did it in a rough, off-hand
way, as if one was only a piece of wood; while others would take their
hands gently over one's body, with a pat now and then, as much as to
say, "By your leave." Of course, I judged a good deal of the buyers by
their manners to myself.
There was one man, I thought, if he would buy me, I should be happy. He
was not a gentleman. He was rather a small man, but well made, and quick
in all his motions. I knew in a moment, by the way he handled me, that
he was used to horses; he spoke gently, and his gray eye had a kindly,
cheery look in it. It may seem strange to say--but it is true all the
same--that the clean, fresh smell there was about him made me take to
him; no smell of old beer and tobacco, which I hated, but a fresh smell
as if he had come out of a hayloft. He offered twenty-three pounds for
me; but that was refused, and he walked away. I looked after him, but he
was gone, and a very hard-looking, loud-voiced man came. I was
dreadfully afraid he would have me; but he walked off. One or two more
came who did not mean business. Then the hard-faced man came back again
and offered twenty-three pounds. A very close bargain was being driven,
for my salesman began to think he should not get all he asked, and must
come down; but just then the gray-eyed man came back again. I could not
help reaching out my head toward him. He stroked my face kindly. "Well,
old chap," he said, "I think we should suit each other. I'll give
twenty-four for him."
"Say twenty-five, and you shall have him." "Twenty-four then," said my
friend, in a very decided tone, "and not another sixpence--yes, or no?"
"Done," said the salesman; "and you may depend upon it there's a
monstrous deal of quality in that horse, and if you want him for cab
work he's a bargain."
[Illustration]
The money was paid on the spot, and my new master took my halter, and
led me out of the fair to an inn, where he had a saddle and bridle
ready. He gave me a good feed of oats, and stood by while I ate it,
talking to himself and talking to me. Half an hour after, we were on our
way to London, through pleasant lanes and country roads, until we came
into the great thoroughfare, on which we traveled steadily, till in the
twilight we reached the great city. The gas lamps were already lighted;
there were streets and streets crossing each other, for mile upon mile.
I thought we should never come to the end of them. At last, in passing
through one, we came to a long cab stand, when my rider called out in a
cheery voice, "Good-night, Governor!"
"Hallo!" cried a voice. "Have you got a good one?"
"I think so," replied my owner.
"I wish you luck with him."
"Thank ye, Governor," and he rode on. We soon turned up one of the
side-streets, and about half-way up that we turned into a very narrow
street, with rather poor-looking houses on one side, and what seemed to
be coach-houses and stables on the other.
My owner pulled up at one of the houses and whistled. The door flew
open, and a young woman, followed by a little girl and boy, ran out.
There was a very lively greeting as my rider dismounted. "Now, then,
Harry, my boy, open the gates, and mother will bring us the lantern."
The next minute they were all round me in the stable yard. "Is he
gentle, father?" "Yes, Dolly, as gentle as your own kitten; come and pat
him." At once the little hand was patting about all over my shoulder
without fear. How good it felt!
"Let me get him a bran mash while you rub him down," said the mother.
"Do, Polly, it's just what he wants; and I know you've got a beautiful
mash ready for me."
I was led into a comfortable, clean-smelling stall with plenty of dry
straw, and after a capital supper, I lay down, thinking I was going to
be happy.