RIDING FOR LADIES. 



maiden run away with over the " breezy downs." Her 

 horse, fresh and frohcsome, started with mine at a Hght 

 canter, and for awhile we kept nicely together ; but 

 presently — after a quarter of a mile or so — her mount 

 began to romp with his head, and finally breaking into a 

 gallop, made off at terrific speed, lashing the damp turf 

 from beneath his flying hoofs, and laying back his wicked 

 ears until they rested flat upon his neck. I knew that the 

 youngster he was carrying had abundance of pluck, even 

 without any very distinct knowledge of the art of riding, so 

 I shouted to her with all my might to sit close and leave 

 him his head (we were going up hill at the time), and to 

 give him the whip when he tired, which I knew he very 

 soon would do, with a long, heavy incline in front of him. 

 I might as well have spoken to the wind. Terror, and 

 consciousness of her own ignorance robbed the child of 

 her wits : she gripped the pommel with her right hand, 

 tugged at the reins with her left, and, after swaying about 

 in a manner that makes me sick to think of, finally fell off, 

 and was picked up bruised and bleeding, and so entirely 

 unnerved as to render it a matter of extreme difficulty to 

 persuade her ever to ride again. As for the horse, he was 

 not personally any the worse of his escapade, but, having 

 conquered his rider, he was ever afterwards rightfully 

 considered an unsafe animal for a lady to mount. 



I have seen children over and over again subjected to 

 the most fearful risks through riding horses that were too 

 much for them. It is so easy for a girl to be overpowered, — 

 and, once she is so, good-bye for ever to all or any pleasure 



