ome
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 offere