A DREADFUL SKLL. 45 



Tommy, the groom, was one of the gang who did 

 not mind passing a week or two in service as his part 

 in the play; he fed the horses on damped hay and 

 mashes for about ten days, when it suited his purpose 

 to have some words with his master ; this arose through 

 not obeying orders to drive faster; and these orders 

 were so repeatedly disregarded, that his master gave 

 him a severe lecture, when Tommy packed up his traps 

 and left him, as he said, for a better situation. Another 

 groom was engaged, who, of course, commenced to feed 

 them on hard dry corn and hay, giving them an un- 

 limited supply of water, and when they were driven 

 out at a spanking pace a few days after, they piped and 

 roared like the band of a Highland regiment. While 

 standing a moment at the door of the gentleman's man- 

 sion, a passer-by remarked to the coachman that his 

 horses were very accomplished, as they understood both 

 " music and drawing." 



" Beg yer pardon, sur, but I think it would be better 

 to sell these here horses, for they are sure to git wusser 

 and wusser," said the new coachman ; but the gentle- 

 man is unwilling to do so, for, as he justly remarks, he 

 had never heard them make that horrid noise before ; 

 it must be that the groom does not understand their 

 treatment (his man servant is for the present both groom 

 and coachman). 



" The dealer was right after all," said he. He goes 

 to him again and asks his advice. 



" I'm afraid the horses are injured," said he to the 

 coper. 



