nd the fire out of my eyes, and laid me sprawlin
on the ground, and every one of the flock went right slap over me, all
but one--poor Brindle. She never came home agin. Bear nabbed her, and
tore her most ridiculous. He eat what he wanted, which was no trifle, I
can tell you, and left the rest till next time.

"Don't talk to me, Squire, about merits. We all want a lift in this
world; sunthin' or another to lay hold on, to help us along--_we want
the cow's tail_.

"Tell your friend, the female widder, she has got hold of the wrong cow
by the tail in gettin' hold of you, for you are nothin' but a despisable
colonist; but to look out for some patron here, some leadin' man, or
great lord, to clinch fast hold of him, and stick to him like a leach,
and if he flags, (for patrons, like old Mooley, get tired sometimes), to
recollect the ash saplin, to lay into him well, and keep him at it, and
no fear but he'll carry her through. He'll fetch her home safe at last,
and no mistake, depend on it, Squire. The best lesson that little boy
could be taught, is, that of _the Patron, or the Cows Tail_."

CHAPTER III. ASCOT RACES.

To-day I visited Ascot. Race-courses are similar every where, and
present the same objects; good horses, cruel riders, knowing men, dupes,
jockeys, gamblers, and a large assemblage of mixed company. But this
is a gayer scene than most others; and every epithet, appropriate to a
course, diminutive or otherwise, must be in the superlative degree when
applied to Ascot. This is the general, and often the only impression
that most men carry away with them.

Mr. Slick, who regards these things practically, called my attention to
another view of it.

"Squire," said he, "I'd a plaguy sight sooner see Ascot than any thing
else to England. There ain't nothin' like it. I don't mean the racin',
because they can't go ahead like us, if they was to die for it. We have
colts that can whip chain lightnin', on a pinch. Old Clay trotted with
it once all round an orchard, and beat it his whole length, but it
singed his tail properly as he passed it, you may depend. It ain't its
runnin' I speak of, therefore, though that ain't mean nother; but it's
got another featur', that you'll know it by from all others. Oh it's an
everlastin' pity you warn't here, when I was to England last time. Queen
was there then; and where she is, of coarse all the world and its wife
is too. She warn't there this year, and it sarves folks right.