OLD BLAZEA.WAY. 75 



carriage wheels wear so much longer. When one of 

 these owners of only middling trotters (chiefly fast 

 tradesmen, young in business, who have not been bank- 

 rupt or insolvent yet) is bragging about his tear-away 

 tit in some bar parlour, when more than half-full of 

 Jersey brandy, and a twopenny cigar between his teeth, 

 you need not contradict him point blank even when you 

 know he is " throwing the hatchet," but you must just 

 edge in sideways the remark, " Many a one would think 

 that was an exaggeration ;" never mind his being vexed, 

 he will cool down again when you tell him that you be- 

 lieve every word he has spoken, but at the same moment 

 mind you point the fore finger of your right hand over 

 your left shoulder, and cheat the devil of the lie. But 

 dear me, here I am, a mile from the crafty coper and his 

 prey. 



" Trot my horse for five pounds, did you say, young 

 man r" replied the gentleman to the coper, eyeing over 

 his cobely-looking animal. 



" Yes, a ' tenner' if you like," said the coper. 



" Are you in earnest ?" said the same old gentleman, 

 at the same moment tickling old Blazeaway with the 

 spurs, who responded by shaking the two extremities of 

 his body, as much as to say, " Be quiet, will you ? let me 

 alone." 



"Yes, lam in earnest," said the coper. 



"Very well," said Mr. S , " I'll have you a spin 



for ten pounds, if you will trot this morning from here 

 (the gates of Trafford park, on the Manchester and Al- 



