SHOW AND USE. 313

received him with great delight, and out of compliment
to the donor, named him Young Peer. He was
brought up with at least as much care and tenderness
as the Squire’s own children—kept in a warm stable,
ted with the best of corn and hay, duly dressed, and
regularly exercised. As he grew up, he gave tokens
of great beauty. His colour was bright bay, with a
white star on his forehead ; his coat was fine, and shone
like sulk; and every pomt about him secmed to pro-
mise perfection of shape and make. Everybody ad-
mired him, as the completest colt that could be scen.

So fine a creature could not be destined to any
common employment. After he had passed his third
year, he was scent to Newmarket, to be trained for the
turf, and a groom was appointed to the care of him
alone. His master, who could not well afford the
expense, saved part of it by turning off a domestic
tutor, whom he kept for the education of his sons, and
was content with sending them to the curate of the
parish.

At four years old, Young Peer started for a sub-
scription purse, and came in second out of a number
of competitors. Soon after, he won a country plate,
and filled his master with joy and triumph. The
Squire now turned all his attention to the turf, made
matches, betted high, and was at first tolerably suc-
cessful. At length, having ventured all the money
he could raise upon one grand match, Young Peer
ran on the wrong side of the post, was distanced, and
the Squire ruined.

Meantime, young Balaam went into Isaac's posses-
sion, where he had a very different training. He was
left to pick up his living as he could, in the lanes and
eomrons; and, on the coldest days in winter, he had ~
no other shelter than the lee-side of the cottage, out
of which he was often glad to pluck the thatch for
a subsistence. As soon as ever he was able to bear
a rider, Isaac’s children got upon him, sometimes two
or three at once; and, if he did not go to their mind,