After a brief pause, he replied to the above politely-expressed demand in the following language:-- "Your request, most unequivocal sir, would seem but reasonable; and so considering it, I have bestowed due reflection upon it.

Unhappily, however, for the Pony Club and its worthy representative, I am quite too poorly provided with worldly wealth at this moment to part with much of it.

A few shillings to procure you a cravat--such as you may get of Kentucky manufacture--I should not object to.

Beyond this, however (and the difficulty grieves me sorely), I am so perfectly incapacitated from doing anything, that I am almost persuaded, in order to the bettering of my own condition, to pay the customary fees, and applying to your honorable body for the privilege of membership, procure those means of lavish generosity which my necessity, and not my will, prevents me from bestowing upon you." "A very pretty idea," returned he of the road; "and under such circumstances, your jest about the cravat from Kentucky is by no means wanting in proper application.

But the fact is, our numbers are just now complete--our ranks are full--and the candidates for the honor are so numerous as to leave little chance for an applicant.