15.  D. Luckily, I have both a bridle and a saddle hanging up at home.

16.  S. Ah! that may be; but I am sure your saddle will never fit my mare.  She’s very notional.

17.  D. Why, then I’ll borrow neighbor Clodpole’s.

18.  S. Clodpole’s! his will no more fit than yours.

19.  D. At the worst, then, I will go to my good friend, Squire Jones.  He has half a score of them; and I am sure he will lend me one that will fit her.

20.  S. You know, friend Derby, that no one is more willing to oblige his neighbors than I am.  I do assure you the beast should be at your service, with all my heart; but she has not been curried, I believe, for three weeks past.  Her foretop and mane want combing and cutting very much.  If anyone should see her in her present plight, it would ruin the sale of her.

21.  D. Oh, a horse is soon curried, and my son Sam shall attend to it at once.

22.  S. Yes, very likely; but I this moment recollect the creature has no shoes on.

23.  D. Well, is there not a blacksmith hard by?

24.  S. What, that tinker, Dobson?  I would not trust such a bungler to shoe a goat.  No, no; none but uncle Tom Thumper shall shoe my mare.

25.  D. As good luck will have it, then, I shall pass right by his door.

26.  S. [Calling to his son.] Tim, Tim! here’s neighbor Derby, who wants the loan of the gray mare, to ride to town to-day.  You know the skin was rubbed off her back, last week, a hand’s breadth or more. [Gives Tim a wink.] However, I believe she is well enough by this time.  You know, Tim, how ready I am to oblige my neighbors; indeed, we ought to do all the good we can in this world.  We must certainly let neighbor Derby have her if she will possibly answer his purpose.  Yes, yes; I see plainly by Tim’s countenance, neighbor Derby, that he’s disposed to oblige you.  I would not have refused you the mare for the worth of her.  If I had, I should have expected you to refuse me in turn.  None of my neighbors can accuse me of being backward in doing them a kindness whenever it is possible.  Come, Tim, what do you say?

27.  Tim.  What do I say, father?  Why, sir, I say that I am no less ready than you are to do a neighborly kindness.  But the mare is by no means capable of performing the journey.  About a hand’s breadth, did you say?  Why, sir, the skin is torn from the poor creature’s back the bigness of your broad-brimmed hat!  And, besides, I have promised her, so soon as she is able to travel, to Ned Saunders, to carry a load of apples to market.

28.  S. Do you hear that, neighbor?  I am very sorry matters are thus.  I would not have disobliged you for the price of two such mares.  Believe me, neighbor Derby, I am really sorry, for your sake, that matters turn out thus.

29.  D. And I as much for yours, neighbor Scrapewell; for to tell you the truth I received a letter this morning from Mr. Griffin, who tells me if I will be in town to-day he will give me the refusal of all that lot of timber, which he is about cutting down, on the side of the hill; and I had intended you should have shared half of it, which would have been not less than fitly dollars in your pocket.  But, as your—­