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Sleary’s Horsemanship

           Hislegswereveryrobust,butshorterthanlegsofgoodproportionsshouldhavebeen.Hischestandbackwereasmuchtoobroad,ashislegsweretooshort.HewasdressedinaNewmarketcoatandtight-fittingtrousers;woreashawlroundhisneck;smeltoflamp-oil,straw,orange-peel,horses’provender,andsawdust;andlookedamostremarkablesortofCentaur,compoundedofthestableandtheplay-house.Wheretheonebegan,andtheotherended,nobodycouldhavetoldwithanyprecision.ThisgentlemanwasmentionedinthebillsofthedayasMr.E.W.B.Childers,sojustlycelebratedforhisdaringvaultingactastheWildHuntsmanoftheNorthAmericanPrairies;inwhichpopularperformance,adiminutiveboywithanoldface,whonowaccompaniedhim,assistedashisinfantson:beingcarriedupsidedownoverhisfather’sshoulder,byonefoot,andheldbythecrownofhishead,heelsupwards,inthepalmofhisfather’shand,accordingtotheviolentpaternalmannerinwhichwildhuntsmenmaybeobservedtofondletheiroffspring.Madeupwithcurls,wreaths,wings,whitebismuth,andcarmine,thishopefulyoungpersonsoaredintosopleasingaCupidastoconstitutethechiefdelightofthematernalpartofthespectators;butinprivate,wherehischaracteristicswereaprecociouscutawaycoatandanextremelygruffvoice,hebecameoftheTurf,turfy.

           ‘Byyourleaves,gentlemen,’saidMr.E.W.B.Childers,glancingroundtheroom.‘Itwasyou,Ibelieve,thatwerewishingtoseeJupe!’

           ‘Itwas,’saidMr.Gradgrind.

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