Domestic Animals 89 



see the hoof and the shoe, and Miss Clare promised 

 a visit to the blacksmith at some future day. 



They found this old rhyme written on the board 

 the next morning: 



"Shoe the old horse, 

 Shoe the old mare, 

 But let the little colt go bare." 



And they learned this old song: 



"Ho, rider ho, ho! 

 No longer can your horse go. 

 I tell you, sir, he wants a shoe. 

 The blacksmith he will make it you. 

 Some nails to hold it on his foot, 

 The blacksmith now for you will put, 

 And, then, Master Rider, you can again bestride her, 

 And, then, Master Rider, you can again bestride her." 



Miss Clare told them that in the old days men 

 always rode on horseback, for there were few carriages 

 and poor roads, and that in some parts of the world 

 now, that is the usual mode of conveyance. At eleven 

 o'clock they put on hats and wraps, and the whole 

 company went to see Mr. Pine, whose large smithy 

 was in a nearby street. 



The teacher had interviewed the blacksmith early 



