176 SPOXTS AND ANECDOTES. 



I do verily believe, to wrestle together a bit, but the 

 devil always had the best of it. 



He was a clever fellow when all right I may say 

 the smartest and best coachman I ever had but he 

 had in spite of all this a certain look about him which 

 said, purpitreo bibit ore nectar. He had a swiggy- 

 looking mouth, and swiggy-looking lips, which be- 

 tokened a dealer in spirituous liquors. Unless very 

 lumpy he carried his liquor well. As a friend of mine 

 once said to a servant he was thinking of engaging, 

 " I suppose you don't get drunk ? " " No, sir." " Are 

 you at all fond of drink ?" ''Well, sir, I don't think 

 I'm particular fond of drink, but I can drink a glass 

 of hale at times." " Oh ! I don't want to know 

 whether you can drink a glass of * hale ' or not, but 

 do you drink ? Of course you do, you all drink, but, 

 damme, can you carry your drink ? " 



Now, I will do my coachman justice in saying, I 

 heard after he had left me, that no glass of gin and 

 water could be too stiff for him, and that no pewter 

 pot could be too deep. 



After what I have said, I think it will be evident 

 to those who aspire to driving to races and such 

 entertainments for pleasure, that they ought to take 

 care that they have daylight with them, their lamps 



