74 THE POCKET AND THE STUD. 



the stable, the ten thousand errands such persons 

 always have from the time the milk is fetched in 

 the mornincy till dad's beer is sent for at niofht, 

 varied occasionally by his coming home tipsy from 

 having taken it out, give the horses about as 

 much rest as if they were picquetted in Fleet 

 Street or Regent Street, of which, if appropriated 

 to a lady's use during a London season, they see 

 quite enough during the time they are out, with- 

 out being reminded of the same thing when 

 wishing to rest themselves in their stable. No 

 doubt the allowing a servant's family to reside 

 over the stable certainly saves them the expense 

 of lodgings, and consequently enables the man to 

 take less wages than he otherwise could do ; but 

 it is a poor saving when half a dozen horses are 

 to have their rest broken by it, independent of 

 Jackey (if the passage through the stable is al- 

 lowed), whenever he can find the opportunity, 

 amusing himself by giving them a touch up 

 with whatever may answer the purpose, to see 

 " how they jumps " in their stalls — " Crikey, aint 

 it fun !" Let any one turn a wild ourang-outang 

 into my stable, I would forgive it, as probably 

 the brute would get kicked, and there his mischief 

 would cease ; but a half-tamed young imp of a 

 boy has cunning enough to avoid being got rid of 

 by so summary a process, and mischief enough to 

 harass any living creature ad infinitum while he 



