50 CONFESSIONS OF A HORSE DEALEK. 



" May I ask you whether you told them that the horse 

 could not masticate his food ?" said I. 



"Not very likely, 1 ' said he. i "Well, they were very 

 anxious to swap with me for another, asking 15 to 

 boot ; hut I had heard so much about their swapping 

 dodges, that I determined to sell first, and buy after ; 

 that is, provided I saw a horse that would suit me : 

 many were offered, but I saw nothing I liked so well as 

 old Eoxer, and I half-regretted selling him indeed I 

 went so far as to offer 7 for him back again, but he 

 was sold, they told me. I went home without one, and 

 afterwards visited many fairs, but saw nothing in make 

 and shape like poor old Boxer, until Nottingham Goose 

 Pair; there I casually met with one of the men to 

 whom I had sold my old favourite, and asked him where 

 he thought he was now ?" 



" ' Oh !' said he, * my hearty, you drew me a tooth 

 with that deal ; why the old devil could not chew butter; 

 we sold him to work in a coal-pit in Staffordshire, and 

 he soon after died. We have one here to-day, as much 

 like him in figure as one pea is like another ; I said, 

 when we bought him, that he was the very model of 

 your old horse. He is five years old, and perfectly sound, 

 and ready for immediate work/ 



" ' Where is he ?' said I. 



" ' Come along, I'll show him to you,' said he ; it 

 was a little before the horse fair began, and I was taken 

 to the stables, which were full of all sorts of horses and 

 copers. 'Bring out that black horse we bought at 

 Shrewsbury, Tom/ said the dealer, or rather coper. 



