A TREMENDOUS JUMP 343 



without receiving any actual bodily injury, although the 

 shock had been sufficient to upset his nervous system, 

 with the result, as Mr. Kobinson said, that he himself 

 would have to finish breaking the colt a pretty stiff 

 undertaking for a man of his years. 



Now, without exaggeration, I should say that the yard- 

 gates were over six feet high. Not that such a height is 

 anything very extraordinary in the way of a jump, as we 

 are told Mr. Mytton cleared a gate seven feet high on his 

 horse Baronet, in the presence of * Nimrod,' the sporting 

 writer of that day. Mr. Sadler, too, had a horse that 

 jumped over a flight of hurdles stood up end- ways, 

 which is nine feet. This he did to get from one paddock 

 to the other, but he had no rider on him. But the jump 

 was remarkable in the fact that probably the filly never 

 saw a fence before, or, rather, never jumped over one, and 

 that the man on her back was sixty years old or more. 



It was on this occasion that Mr. Eobinson told me of 

 the story he had once heard of a precocious youth who 

 was brought up to show his learning, by repeating the 

 alphabet to the clergyman. 



'Now, Tommy,' said his proud instructor, 'let the 

 gentleman hear how nicely you can say your letters.' 



A, B, C were got through without hesitation ; but D 

 was a puzzler. 



1 Go on,' said the clergyman, by way of encouragement; 

 ' you know it very well.' 



' Oh yes, sir,' replies Tommy; ' I knows un very well 

 by sight, but I forget his name.' 



Mr. Robinson was always a remarkably early riser. 

 He was a moderate liver, although he occasionally en- 

 joyed a glass with a friend whilst relating or hearing 

 some humorous, but innocent, story ; for be it said his 

 humour was never coarse. He was fond of driving, but 



