Evas Equestrianism. 



253 



the delights encompassed within a farm 

 through which runs a babbling stream; 

 and I am sure many of them would delight 

 in the natural unrestrained expansion of 

 faculties that gives to Eva her sturdy 

 frame, her bright eyes and eager searching 

 mind. 



But Eva's chief exploit is her horseback 

 riding. She cannot remember the time 

 when she did not delight to visit the stables, 

 and when her papa or the " hired man " 

 would put her upon the back of the most 

 venerable equine and walk solemnly by her 

 side as the trusty steed made his circuit of 

 the barnyard, her cup of happiness was 

 full. Of late, however, she has done con- 

 siderable riding without the service of a 

 groom, but the only horse which she is 

 permitted to use is Jim — old and slow and 

 sure. Equestrianism is a curious art which 

 cannot be readily mastered, and though 

 Jim is sure, /. t., sure not to run away, he 

 is equally sure to do whatever he pleases 

 when there is no stronger hand than Eva's 

 upon the rein. And why should he not? 

 Has not Eva petted him and fed him sugar 

 since she was a wee toddling mite that he 

 could have crushed with his foot, and is he 

 now to give up his will and go cantering 

 over the country when it pleases him to go 

 to the stable and eat oats? Ah no ! Jim 

 is too wise for that, and when he chooses 

 to turn his head toward home Eva s ride is 

 at an end. 



It so happened that on a particular 

 morning Eva was required to take a mes- 

 sage to the nearest neighbor's, and throw- 

 ing a blanket upon Jim (her riding is done 

 without a side-saddle and therefore at great 

 disadvantage) she started off. It was a 

 bright summer morning and Jim was dis- 

 posed to take suitable exercise. Eva drew 

 up to the door, delivered her message to 



Mrs. H , and, as she was leaving the 



yard, decided to go on to the next house 

 and speak with her friend Hattie. She 

 therefore pulled Jim's head to the left, but 

 he, having exercised sufficiently, turned 

 obstinately to the right. Evidently he 

 meant to keep his head toward home, and 

 Eva was apparently powerless. The dis- 

 comfited midget, poised upon the broad 

 back of the powerful animal, called a halt 

 to enable her to consider matters. She 

 was a maiden of many resources, and, 

 knowing that from years of training, Jim 

 would not fail to obey the word of com- 

 mand, however he might disregard her 

 slight grasp of the bridle-rein, she deter- 

 mined to make him back down the road 

 until she reached her friend's home. No 

 doubt Jim was somewhat puzzled, but he 

 slowly backed himself down that long 

 stretch of country road, guided by Eva's 

 persistent voice, until finally the coveted 

 council with Hattie was held. This being 

 over, Eva, delighted at the success of her 

 strategy, and disgusted with the obstinacy 

 of her charger, chirruped "get up," and 

 they proceded at a moderately rapid pace 

 toward home, the horse's head now being 

 first in order of advance, as is the normal 

 manner of equine locomotion. 



Eva and the few friends who know of 

 this exploit indulge in considerable laughter 

 over her unique method of progressing 

 backward. She will soon be the happy 

 possessor of a side-saddle, and no doubt 

 will become, in future years, an accom- 

 plished equestrienne. 



It is proper to say in closing that Eva is 

 an enthusiastic member of the Audubon 

 Society, and her name is on the subscrip- 

 tion list of this magazine. It is easy to 

 conjecture her astonishment as she reads 

 this sketch. 



Mary E. Shults. 



FORT PLAIN. 



