232 THE MERRY GEE-GEE 



as the noblest and least demoralizing 

 sport old England boasts; I also know, 

 without any possible shadow of doubt 

 whatever, that nothing I have said will 

 deter brave punters from bravely punting 

 on and on ; yet if, in laying bare my 

 varied experiences, I prevent a few such 

 persevering spirits from ''falling into the 

 net," getting '' lumbered," or wasting their 

 spare cash on *' paddock finals ; " and, 

 furthermore, should this ''sportsman's 

 autobiography " dissemble a newly, born 

 idea in a fluttering breast that the 

 backer's couch is a bed of roses, and his 

 path strewn with gold for the mere pick- 

 ing up, may not a wee moral have been 

 taught, and a useful lesson learned, from 

 the perusal of the "Merry Gee-Gee" ? 



PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, 

 LONDON AND BECCLES. 



