CHAPTER III.
BUYING A HORSE.
"And you know this Deacon Elkins to be a thoroughly reliable man in every respect ?" "Indeed, I do," said honest Nathan Robbins.

"He is the very soul of honor; couldn't do a mean thing.

I'd trust him with all I have." "Well, I'm glad to hear this, for I'm just going to buy a horse of him." "A horse ?" "Yes--a horse!" "Then I don't know anything about him!" A TRUE TALE.
After furnishing my house in the aforesaid economical and nondescript fashion, came the trials of "planting time." This was such an unfragrant and expensive period that I pass over it as briefly as possible.

I saw it was necessary in conformity with the appalling situation to alter one vowel in my Manorial Hall.

The haul altogether amounted to eighteen loads besides a hundred bags of vilely smelling fertilizers.