ON DRIVING. 



35 



denly relax your reins (still keeping them in your hand) 

 and give the word sharp, he will back up in his breeching 

 and come to a full stop. I am thus particular in this as 

 it may often insure the reader's safety, as thus : sup- 

 pose a crowded thoroughfare, you driving along at a fair 

 gait, a runaway pair behind strikes your wagon, your first 

 impulse is to cry Wo. Your horse inspired with faith in 

 your word is not frightened by the crash, stops short, 

 and gives you time to extricate yourself from the wreck, 

 and probably saves for you a leg or arm, or possibly your 

 neck ; the being accustomed to stop at the word he un- 

 derstands as his paramount duty, on a hill, anywhere ; 

 consequently the crash does not so frighten him, as the 

 word Wo arrests the fright, and he does his duty, stops. 



