Gentlemen Riders 



offered to run his own hack, against a pony belonging to 

 Mr. H. Thompson, called The Maid of Skelgate, catch 

 weight for half a mile. The challenge was duly accepted 

 and articles drawn up ; but, on going down to the start, 

 Mr. Thompson discovered that a boy in Scott's stable, and 

 who had ridden several winners in public, was engaged to 

 ride his opponent's horse. 



Against this step he remonstrated very strongly, his con- 

 tention being that the conditions were for gentlemen riders. 

 The articles, however, on examination, showed no such 

 stipulation, and the owner of the hack boasted that he had 

 got the best of the match, because Mr. Thompson was 

 eleven stone, and his own jockey under seven. Annoyed at 

 such a trick being played on him, Mr. Thompson made no 

 reply, but riding off to his carriage in which were seated 

 Mrs. Thompson and her family, he merely said to his wife, 

 " Hand me out George, I am too heavy ; " and at the same 

 moment a little dark-eyed cherub in a blue cloth frock, with 

 gilt buttons, made his appearance out of the window to the 

 delight of the crowd, who watched the changing of the 

 stirrups from his own pony to The Maid of Skelgate with 

 great interest, and cheered loudly as, accompanied by his 

 father, the tiny jockey cantered down to the post, his little 

 red legs showing beneath his white trousers. 



" What am I to do, papa ? " was the only question he 

 asked. 



" Why, hold your reins tight, and directly they say ' Go,' 

 come as fast as you can home," was the reply. 



The order was obeyed to the letter, and Master George 

 having won in a canter, was returned to the carriage in the 

 same way he came out, viz. through the window. 



As at that time his weight was within a pound of three 



132 



