He felt that he, was made for something better than shoeing horses.

This ambitious thought was first suggested to him by the increasing portliness of his person, which, while it made stooping over a horse's hoof inconvenient, also impressed him with the fact that his aldermanic figure would really adorn a learned profession.

So he bought one of those little hand-books which the founder of the Thomsonian system sold dirt-cheap at twenty dollars apiece, and which told how to cure or kill in every case.

The owners of these important treasures of invaluable information were under bonds not to disclose the profound secrets therein contained, the fathomless wisdom which taught them how to decide in any given case whether ginseng or a corn-sweat was the required remedy.

And the invested twenty dollars had brought the shrewd blacksmith a handsome return.
"Hello!" said Jonas in true Western style, as he reined up in front of Dr.Ketchup's house in the outskirts of Brayville.