54 CONFESSIONS OF A HOESE DEALER. 



" I laughed at the idea, but on examination, I found 

 that such was the case, and on closer examination, I 

 found that the black colour of his coat was gradually 

 giving place to brown, and finally his two heels assumed 

 their natural appearance, ' pure white/ and there could 

 be no mistake. ' Old Boxer' once more stood before me, 

 in his natural toggery. \ 



" What could I do ? be angry ! No, for I was 

 moved almost to tears, and really pleased to see my old 

 favourite again. My neighbours chaffed me ; but after 

 all, the old horse was worth every shilling I had given 

 for him. He ate his corn, kept his condition, and did 

 his work superior to many younger horses of theirs, 

 which had cost them more money. The copers had so 

 skilfully bishoped him, and filed his teeth, that they 

 had managed what my farrier had entirely failed to do 

 viz., to cure him of quidding his food i. e., partially 

 chewing, and leaving most of it in the manger. 



" I kept the horse five years after this ; and though 

 for the last twelve months, he partially returned to his 

 old infirmity of quidding his food, I never regretted 

 selling him for six pounds, and buying him again in a 

 new coat for thirty- three," concluded the farmer, in high 

 glee. 



There are in the United Kingdom several gangs of 

 scoundrels frequenting country fairs, whose calling is 

 'far more dangerous and disgraceful than that of the 

 regular " horse coper ;" these are "smashers," or ut- 

 terers of counterfeit Bank of England notes ; for such 



