174 ECHOES OF OLD COUNTY LIFE. 



and resting him before a large fire which blazed in the 

 fine old grate before which many a time and oft poor 

 NclHe Gwynne had warmed her dainty feet, the horse, 

 led by a halter, was induced to jump over the backs of 

 a couple of chairs. Then, J. Leech Manning, a sporting 

 farmer of the neighbourhood, said he would undertake 

 to ride him over the dinner-table (it should be mentioned 

 that the dinner was still in progress, the third course 

 was being consumed, the decanters of wine going their 

 round, the candelabra all alight, and various wax lights 

 as well were sparkling on the board). No sooner said 

 than Manning jumped on to the barebacked horse, and 

 taking the halter in his hand, he rode him up into the 

 corner of the room, which was about forty feet long by 

 twenty-two feet wide, the table in the meantime having 

 been slightly slued round : Manning struck the horse 

 with his heel, and with a slap on his neck with his right 

 hand he sent him flying over the table, covered as it was 

 with all the usual appurtenances to a repast : he cleared 

 it well, then, to the surprise of all, he turned the horse in 

 splendid style and jumped him back again. 



The gentleman who first suggested the attempt, 

 now a noted parish priest in an extreme northern 

 county, then essayed the same feat. The horse 

 answered to his cry of "Come up," and just cleared 

 the table, but caught one of his heels on its edge, 

 and pulling the cloth over smashed a few plates and 

 glasses, which fell with a loud clatter, whereupon the 

 rider struck the gallant steed with his open hand, and 

 again he cleared the whole in much better style than 

 before. Of course, immediately a dozen others, emulous 



