still called
mares in certain counties, where genuine old English is still preserved.
That same afternoon, the man who had been her husband, having got drunk
in a public-house with the money which he had received for her,
quarrelled with another man, and receiving a blow under the ear, fell
upon the floor, and died of artiflex; and in less than three weeks I was
married to Mary Fulcher, by virtue of regular bans. I am told she was
legally my property by virtue of my having bought her with a halter round
her neck; but, to tell you the truth, I think everybody should live by
his trade, and I didn't wish to act shabbily towards our parson, who is a
good fellow, and has certainly a right to his fees. A better wife than
Mary Fulcher--I mean Mary Dale--no one ever had; she has borne me several
children, and has at all times shown a willingness to oblige me, and to
be my faithful wife. Amongst other things, I begged her to have done
with her family, and I believe she has never spoken to them since.

"I have thriven very well in business, and my name is up as being a
person who can be depended on, when folks treats me handsomely. I always
make a point when a gentleman comes to me and says, 'Mr. Dale,' or
'John'--for I have no objection to be called John by a gentleman--'I
wants a good horse, and I am ready to pay a good price'--I always makes a
point, I say, to furnish him with an animal worth the money; but when I
sees a fellow, whether he calls himself gentleman or not, wishing to
circumvent me, what does I do? I doesn't quarrel with him; not I; but,
letting him imagine he is taking me in, I contrives to sell him a screw
for thirty pounds, not worth forty shillings. All honest respectable
people have at present great confidence in me, and frequently commissions
me to buy them horses at great fairs like this.

"This short young gentleman was recommended to me by a great landed
proprietor, to whom he bore letters of recommendation from some great
prince in his own country, who had a long time ago been entertained at
the house of the landed proprietor, and the consequence is, that I brings
young six foot six to Horncastle, and purchases for him the horse of the
Romany Rye. I don't do these kind things for nothing, it is true; that
can't be expected; for every one must live by his trade; but, as I said
before, when I am treated handsomely, I treat folks so. Honesty, I have
discovered, as perhaps some other people have, is