340 TOO MUCH OF THE PURE ELEMENT. 



these meddlers, preferring, as Listen said, to " mix 

 for myself." Many people know to what this refers, 

 but as many do not, I will mention it. 



Before Listen got so high in point of engagements 

 as he afterwards most deservedly did, he had his daily 

 pennyworth of milk taken . This got at last so very rich 

 of the water that Liston could stand it no longer ; so 

 next morning he made his appearance at the door with 

 two small jugs in his hand; the milkman, supposing he 

 wanted an extra allowance for some purpose, filled the 

 one with the usual quantity, and was preparing to fill 

 the second, " No," says Liston, " I have brought that 

 for the water ; now take back this mixture, and give 

 me half in quantity of milk ; I will mix in future for 

 myself." Now, like Liston, whenever I have applied 

 to a meddler, although I paid him for his time, I still 

 chose to " mix for myself." I perfectly well knew it 

 would depend on circumstances as to what horses he 

 might choose to inform me of, and well knew he would 

 not tell me of every horse he thought I should like : 

 still he would tell me of some, and thus save me trou- 

 ble, and as I never should be guided by what he said, 

 he could do no harm. I made use of him, as they say 

 the lion does of the jackal ; but after he had found the 

 quarry, I always begged him to stand aloof, and leave 

 me to decide how far it might suit my appetite. He 

 may (properly appreciated) be made a useful scout, 

 but he is not to be trusted as a counsellor. Thus 

 much for private individuals employing meddlers ; let 

 us see how far they affect dealers. 



As I have in other places said, the ill Avord of any 

 ignoramus or malevolent fellow used against a dealer 

 or his horse is sure to be given implicit credit to, and 



