A good man would seek far, before he would repose so large a trust in another person. The _gentleman_ generally engages the groom after a trivial questioning. His desire is to have a servant entirely corrupt; one who asserts a knowledge how to _trick_ animals into health. No examination is made into the real character of the applicant. A vast confidence is off-hand reposed in an individual who may be without a single moral attribute. Who deserves blame for such an abuse of responsibility? He who has been educated into knowingness, and, having become thoroughly degraded, esteems himself fully qualified for the situation he demands to fill, or he who, having the benefit of education, and being blessed with leisure for self-inquiry, shirks his duty and transfers his authority to unworthy hands? [Illustration: STICKING TO A HORSE.] Every groom fancies he knows how to compound something he calls a condition ball,--that is, a certain mixture of drugs, which shall bring a living body suddenly into "tip-top" health. A bevy of companions are invited to see "Jim give a ball." They duly arrive, and part of the horse's tongue is speedily made to protrude from the mouth, this portion being firmly held by "Jim's" free hand. The condition ball is in "Jim's" other hand, and the exhibition consists in the marvelous adroitness with which the ball can be introduced between the animal's jaws. The horse soon sympathizes with the excitement that surrounds it. Jim, "quick as lightning," makes a thrust with the ball, whereupon the startled animal raises the head and retreats. "Stick to him, Jim!" "stick to him!" shout the visitors. Jim does stick to him until his hand is covered with blood, or, without quitting its gripe, suddenly loses the resistance, which constituted its hold. Should it be the former, the frœnum of the tongue is ruptured, and a wetted sponge soon clears the hand of the groom as well as the mouth of the horse. A general curse and a kick under the belly of the rebellious steed end the amusements for one day. Should it be the latter, Jim finds the larger portion of the quadruped's tongue left in his hand. This is an awful accident. The blood is wiped off, and the groom next morning goes to his master with, "Please, sir, see what 'Fugleman' has done in his sleep!" A farmer engages a pretty-looking stable boy. The young scamp is sufficiently a groom to glory in nothing so much as deception. The farmer, however, takes this pretty boy to the fair, where an additional horse is purchased. With the new "dobbin" the boy is entrusted, being cautioned to lead it gently home. With numerous protestations boy and horse depart, but have barely reached the suburbs before the knowing youngster stops "dobbin," and, twisting the halter in "a chaw," leads the animal to the nearest gate, where the lad climbs upon its back.