Quoiqu'il en soit, je ne tairai point cette histoire; je l'abandonne à la credulité, ou à l'incredulité des Lecteurs, ils prendront à cet égard quel parti il leur plaira. Je dirai seulement, s'ils ne la veulent pas croire, que je les defie de me prouver qu'elle soit absolument impossible; ils ne le prouveront jamais.
GOMGAM.
While the Doctor was deliberating by what significant name to call the foal of which he had in so surprising a manner found himself possessed, a warm dispute upon the same subject had arisen between Barnaby and Nicholas: for though a woman does not consider herself complimented when she is called a horse-godmother, each was ambitious of being horse-godfather on this occasion, and giving his own name to the colt, which had already become a pet with both.
Upon discovering each other's wish they first quietly argued the point. Nicholas maintained that it was not possible any person, except his master, could have so good a right to name the colt as himself, who had actually been present when he was dropt. Barnaby admitted the force of the argument, but observed that there was a still stronger reason for naming him as he proposed, because he had been foaled on the eleventh of June, which is St. Barnabas's day.
Nicholas, quoth his antagonist, it ought to be, for I was there at the very nick of time. Barnaby, retorted the other, it ought to be; for in a barn it happened.
Old Nick was the father of him! said Nicholas.—The more reason, replied Barnaby, for giving him a Saint's name.
He shall be nicked to suit his name, said Nicholas;—and that's a good reason!—Its a wicked reason, cried Barnaby, he shall never be nicked. I love him as well as if he was a bairn of my own: and that's another reason why he should be called Barnaby. He shall neither be nicked or Nicholased.
Upon this Nicholas grew warm, and asserted that his name was as good as the others, and that he was ready to prove himself the better man. The other who had been made angry at the thought of nicking his pet, was easily put upon his mettle, and they agreed to settle the dispute by the ultima ratio regum. But this appeal to the immortal Gods was not definitive, for John Atkinson the Miller's son came up and parted them; and laughing at them for a couple of fools when he heard the cause of their quarrel, he proposed that they should determine it by running a race to the gate at the other end of the field.
Having made them shake hands, and promise to abide by the issue, he went before them to the goal, and got on the other side to give the signal and act as umpire.