carriage horse?"

"Oh, yes! my boy," said the farmer, coming closer, "he might have been
anything when he was young; look at his nostrils and his ears, the shape
of his neck and shoulder; there's a deal of breeding about that horse."
He put out his hand and gave me a kind pat on the neck. I put out my
nose in answer to his kindness; the boy stroked my face.

"Poor old fellow! see, grandpapa, how well he understands kindness.
Could not you buy him and make him young again as you did with
Ladybird?"

"My dear boy, I can't make all old horses young; besides, Ladybird was
not so very old, as she was run down and badly used."

"Well, grandpapa, I don't believe that this one is old; look at his mane
and tail. I wish you would look into his mouth, and then you could tell;
though he is so very thin, his eyes are not sunk like some old horses."
The old gentleman laughed. "Bless the boy! he is as horsey as his old
grandfather."

"But do look at his mouth, grandpapa, and ask the price; I am sure he
would grow young in our meadows."

The man who had brought me for sale now put in his word. "The young
gentleman's a real knowing one, sir. Now, the fact is, this 'ere hoss is
just pulled down with over-work in the cabs; he's not an old one, and I
heard as how the vetenary said that a six-months' run off would set him
right up, being as how his wind was not broken. I've had the tending of
him these ten days past, and a gratefuller, pleasanter animal I never