262 ALL HAIL TO THE COB. 



to harness would probably have smashed the whole 

 concern. 



I can mention another instance where a most good- 

 tempered and perfectly trained cob would have done 

 mischief, if not held by main force, merely from fright. 

 I had bought him for my wife, knowing he had been 

 constantly driven by a lady. Driving out one day, 

 a violent hail- storm came on : my wife got under a 

 large tree, and was perfectly sheltered, but it did not 

 cover the cob's head, or the man standing at it. She 

 thoughtlessly desired him to take a large oil-skin gig 

 umbrella, and hold it over his own and her cob's head, 

 who instantly became ungovernable : the man, to hold 

 him the better, threw down the umbrella, and the 

 moment he had done so, the cob became perfectly 

 quiet : it was merely the hail rattling on the oil- skin 

 that alarmed him ; he had not been taught to bear 

 this, but he very soon was : perhaps this hint may be 

 useful to some lady similarly situated. 



I had a horse that would let one do any thing 

 when on him that is usually done, but one thing he 

 would not permit, which was, to take a letter or 

 indeed any paper that rustled out of the pocket : he 

 would go away with any man living who did it set 

 him frantic. I conclude some one had let a letter 

 blow out of his hand, which had possibly alighted on 

 the horse's head, and given him a fright. He was 

 just the same in the stable : even show him a white 

 sheet of paper, he would plunge most violently. Not 

 wanting to read on his back, I did not take the trouble 

 to reconcile him to this, as I could make him under- 

 stand my wishes by other means than epistolary cor- 

 respondence: still, the not teaching him to bear it 

 might, if he was sold to any one without apprising 



