THE MISCHANCES OF A SUNDAY.

Observer, Volume 5, Issue 124, 27 January 1883, Page 312

THE MISCHANCES OF A SUNDAY.

The misadventures that befell a well-known citizen on a recent Sunday while in the pursuit of pleasure are so diverting that we scruple not to relate them, although for the sake of the principal actor we shall not divulge names, lhat is as much as a journalist can be expected to promise when a good thing comes his way. The story may please the merrily-disposed, and at any rate it will supply a moral which the " unco quid " will be at no loss to apply. It seems then that on Sunday week our friend, whom we shall term A., having previously conceived the plan of a day's outing, procured a horse and buggy from Quick's stables, and embarking his wife and hopeful offspring upon it, together with a chance acquaintance whom he had invited, set out for the residence of a friend at Mount Albert. A. drove through the city in spanking style, handling the ribbons with as much assumption of ease as if he were accustomed to the thing, and gaily nodding to all envious or piously-shocked persons who reoognised him. In due course he drove up to his friend's retreat, and was graciously welcomed. The host invited his guests to enter the house, and then took charge of the horse and buggy-

JSTot being niuch concerned, however, with, the care of horses, he unharnessed the animal and turned him loose in a paddock of rank grass, with only//}!ae bridle remaining upon him. The stallfed drudge could hardly believe his senses for some time, but finding, after due deliberation* that he was really free, he gave vent to his satis*faction by prolonged neighing, and then rolled and tumbled about the grass to his heart's delighfc, varying the amusement with an occasional scamper round the paddock at full speed. Meanwhile, the guests had entered the house and were partaking of refreshment, but A. soon grew alarmed at the strange antics of his hired beast, and, anxious for its safety, went out to see after it. To his dismay, he found that the animal in its uncouth gambols had torn the bridle to tatters und broken the martingale to pieces, while it exhibited su6h a wild, intractable spirit that he resolved to Ctipßfe it at once lest peradventuro further enjoyment o£ this sort of liberty might render it quite irreclaimable. He found, however, that to resolve was one thing, and t^execute another. The erstwhile docile and patient draught horse had become as « wild as its fleet-footed prototype in the dim hazjj of a primeval epoch, and was neither to be caught with threats nor cajolery. All hands turned out to chase it, but the hunt only infused fresh "lire and spirit into its breast. Then, as the afternoon began to wane, and the limbs of the pursuers to tire, the services of some neighbours were called into requisition. Their efforts only made matters infinitely worse, for the fugitive horse, scared by their shouts, jumped the paddock hedge and set off at a good pace across country. Greatly crestfallen at his ill-luck, and filled with dire forebodings as to the ultimate result of the misadventure, A. at length determined to return into town without the horso. His friend was unable to supply him with another, out after some house-to-house solicitation, a settler was found who, for the sake of £1, was willing to drive the party into town as soon as his family had returned from evening service with the trap. A., ' his disgusted friend, anxious wife, and drowsy youngsters had therefore to wait until 9 o'clock, . when the long-expected vehicle arrived, and they prepared for homo. They reached town all right, and, before parting with the settler, A., by paying another pound, arranged that he should search for and recover the errant horse at daylight next morning. Haunted by the dread of meeting the terrible Quick in quest of his missing horse, A. could not sleep that night, and, therefore, rising ruefully with the dawn, he repaired to Crowther's, got another horse, and rode out to Mount Albert. Instead of finding the settler whom he had engaged to seek out the levanter already in pursuit, he discovered that the fellow, having been paid, intended to do the job at his leisure. Accordingly he feed another man to take up the trail of the wanderer, and then returned with the buggy, which, with quaking heart, he drove back to Quick's stables. Giving it in charge of an ostler, he enquired for the proprietor in order to report the sad tidings. Quick appeared in answer to the summons, and A., with doleful face, and in tremulous accents, ~^»ld the tale of his misfortune. Anxious to avoid a scene, he announced, his willingness to make due restitution if necessary, and then, as a;;preliminary to 1 action, asked for a description of the horse, in - order that he might advertise for it. Quick seemed morose and wrathful, and the remains of . poor A.'s courage oozed out at his finger ends. As a last resort, he pulled out his purse, in the hope that the sight of it would cause the redoubtful stable-owner to relent. To make a long story short, A. had been reduced to the verge of despair, and was prepared to make any monetary sacrifice within his means in order to appease the offended Quick, when the latter suddenly unbent his brow, drily remarked that all his horses km*^*their way home, and then laconically stated the cause of all the trouble was in his stable, having returned on the previous night. A. went on his way rejoicing, but his Sunday trip cost him £5, and he now declares that it is the last time lie will take charge of a hired horse and buggy.