ice,
with all my heart; but she has not been curried, I believe, for three
weeks past. Her foretop and mane want combing and cutting very much. If
anyone should see her in her present plight, it would ruin the sale of
her.

21. D. Oh, a horse is soon curried, and my son Sam shall attend to it at
once.

22. S. Yes, very likely; but I this moment recollect the creature has no
shoes on.

23. D. Well, is there not a blacksmith hard by?

24. S. What, that tinker, Dobson? I would not trust such a bungler to
shoe a goat. No, no; none but uncle Tom Thumper shall shoe my mare.

25. D. As good luck will have it, then, I shall pass right by his door.

26. S. [Calling to his son.] Tim, Tim! here's neighbor Derby, who wants
the loan of the gray mare, to ride to town to-day. You know the skin was
rubbed off her back, last week, a hand's breadth or more. [Gives Tim a
wink.] However, I believe she is well enough by this time. You know, Tim,
how ready I am to oblige my neighbors; indeed, we ought to do all the good
we can in this world. We must certainly let neighbor Derby have her if she
will possibly answer his purpose. Yes, yes; I see plainly by Tim's
countenance, neighbor Derby, that he's disposed to oblige you. I would not
have refused you the mare for the worth of her. If I had, I should have
expected you to refuse me in turn. None of my neighbors can accuse me of
being backward in doing them a kindness whenever it is possible. Come,
Tim, what do you say?

27. Tim. What do I say, father? Why, sir, I say that I am no less ready
than you are to do a neighborly kindness. But the mare is by no means
capable of performing the journey. About a hand's breadth, did you say?
Why, sir, the skin is torn from the poor creature's back the bigness of
your broad-brimmed hat! And, besides, I have promised her, so soon as she
is able to travel, to Ned Saunders, to carry a load of apples to market.

28. S. Do you hear that, neighbor? I am very sorry matters are thus. I
would not have disobliged you for the price of two such mares. Believe me,
neighbor Derby, I am really sorry, for your sake, that matters turn out
thus.

29. D. And I as much for yours, neighbor Scrapewell; for to tell you the
truth I received a letter this morning from Mr. Griffin, who tells me if I
will be in town to-day he will give me the refusal of all that lot of
timber, which he is about cutting down, on the side of the hill; and I had
intended you should have share