PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH. 347 



keeps them honest. Now the strappers — the gener- 

 ahty of whom I give full credit for being quite dis- 

 posed to pillage both master and customer if they can 

 do so with impunity — if they could carry the corn 

 home in lieu of giving it to the horses, there is little 

 doubt but they would do so ; but the horses are seen 

 feeding by other eyes, as well as those of the man 

 directly in charge of them ; so he must give them 

 their feed : and supposing he did crib a portion from 

 each, oats are a bulky article in proportion to their 

 value, and could not be conveyed away in any quan- 

 tity, A few to feed a rabbit or hen or two is the most 

 that could be got off: and supposing this done, the 

 quantity taken from six or seven horses could never 

 affect tliem. The customer has another guarantee 

 against his horse not getting his feeding. These 

 helpers always look to getting some little reward if a 

 horse is sold or taken away, provided he looks as if he 

 had had justice done him ; and this they are quite sure 

 they will not get if he looks the reverse : so, depend 

 on it, they would be more likely to rob their master 

 of his corn than your horse. There is one way in 

 which he may come off second best ; but if he does, it 

 is your fault ; so I give you a hint that may be useful. 

 If you are known as one who gives a shilling, 

 or not anything, where half-a-crown would be advan- 

 tageously given to a helper, so sure as your horse 

 is a horse half liis oats will be cribbed from him and 

 given to that of some one who pays properly. Pay 

 properly, and you need be under no fear of any want of 

 attention to your horse. Under all circumstances, pay 

 servants, not lavishly, but liberally: it is not only 

 justice, but economy in the long run. I have never 

 been in the habit of keeping horses at livery unless 

 for a day or two, or if sent for sale j but Avhether in 



