BEIDLES. 233 



subject for a future one. In the interim let me give 

 a hint to my readers that to some may be useful — 

 the saddler has plenty of business in his own line, 

 and plenty of scope to show his ingenuity or supe- 

 riority, but, nesutor — go to a bit-maker for bits. The 

 saddler only buys them ; the latter makes them, and 

 further, will not only let you into the secret but 

 show you the difference between a " case-hardened," 

 bit and one finished in the common way, which has 

 this objection — a servant can never keep it to a polish, 

 unless, like the soldier, he spends a long time in the 

 process by using a pebble or his ramrod. Bits not 

 case-hardened rust, even from the effects of a foggy 

 morning. They are, besides, soft, and, unless made 

 very thick and clumsy, bend. With a case-hardened 

 bit, supposing from neglect or any other circumstance 

 it rusts, the rust will only be on the surface, and is 

 got off readily. With the other it " eats in," and 

 half a day is taken up in restoring it to the little 

 polish it is capable of showing. The time of any man 

 fit to be employed about a stable may be better occu- 

 pied than in such an unthankful office. 



