o fair an opportunity of exercising his vocation.
The clergyman, under the same mistake, produced his purse unasked, and
assured the inoffensive and surprised horseman that it was unnecessary to
draw his pistol. The traveller rallied his horse, with apologies to the
gentleman, whom he had unwillingly affrighted, and pursued his journey.
The horse next made the same suspicious approach to a coach, from the
windows of which a blunderbuss was levelled, with denunciations of death
and destruction to the rider, who was innocent of all offence in deed or
word. In short, after his life had been once or twice endangered by the
suspicions to which his horse's conduct gave rise, and his liberty as
often threatened by peace officers, who were disposed to apprehend him as
a notorious highwayman, he found himself obliged to part with the animal
for a mere trifle, and to purchase at a dearer rate a horse of less
external figure and action, but of better moral habits.

[Illustration]

ANECDOTE XCVII.

A Philosophic Cat.

A young cat, which sometimes was permitted the indulgence of taking her
place in the domestic circle, upon the carpet before the fire in the
parlour, one day came in when one of the party was spinning upon a line
wheel. Having never seen such a thing before, she became extremely alarmed
by its appearance and motion. She couched down in an attitude of fear and
of investigation; and yet at such a distance as would admit of a speedy
retreat if it should prove to be alive, and an enemy. She crept slowly all
along the wheel, with her eyes steadily fixed on it, and with a very
singular expression of countenance, till at length, not being able to
satisfy herself, she retreated towards the door, impatiently waiting to
make her escape; which she did the moment it was in her power, with great
precipitation.

The next morning, when she came into the room, the wheel then standing
still, she advanced courageously towards it, and after an apparently
careful examination, walking all round, ventured upon the further
experiment of endeavouring to ascertain with her paw whether there was
really anything to be apprehended from it. Still not finding any motion,
our philosopher of the Newtonian school, satisfied that she had nothing to
fear, seated herself quietly by the fire; and the next time she saw it in
motion, she sprang gaily forward, and enjoyed her triumph, by playing with
the object of her former terror.

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