and experience should be bought early. This golden lesson I leave in
return for the guineas. Believe me, 'tis of more worth. Read over
those verses on the windowpane before starting, digest them, and
trust me, thy obliged,

"Peter, The Jackman.

"Raise not thy hand so often to thy breast: 'tis a sure index of
hidden valuables."

Be sure I was wroth enough: nor did the calm interest of the two
snail owners appease me, when at breakfast I told them a part of the
story. But I thought I read sympathy in the low price at which one
of them offer'd me his horse. 'Twas a tall black brute, very strong
in the loins, and I bought him at once out of my shrunken stock of
guineas. At ten o'clock, I set out, not along the Bath road, but
bearing to the south, as the young gentlewoman had counselled. I
began to hold a high opinion of her advice.

By twelve o'clock I was back at the inn door, clamoring to see the
man that sold me the horse, which had gone dead lame after the
second mile.

"Dear heart!" cried the landlord; "they are gone, the both, this
hour and a half. But they are coming again within the fortnight; and
I'm expressly to report if you return'd, as they had a wager about
it."

I turn'd away, pondering. Two days on the road had put me sadly out
of conceit with myself. For mile upon mile I trudged, dragging the