568 HISTORY OF THE 



is begun, the limits of which are prescribed, and 

 it ends in directing their ride homewards. 



" The morning's exercise often extends to four 

 hours, and the evening's to much about the same 

 time. Being once in the stable, each lad begins his 

 labour. He leads the horse into his stall, ties him 

 up, rubs down his legs with straw, takes off his 

 saddle and body clothes ; curries him carefully, 

 then with both curry-comb and brush, never leaves 

 him till he has thoroughly cleaned his skin, so 

 that neither spot nor wet, nor any appearance of 

 neglect, may be seen about him. The horse is 

 then reclothed, and suffered to repose for some 

 time, which is first employed in gratifying his 

 hunger, and recovering from his weariness. All 

 this is performed, and the stables are once more 

 shut up, about nine o'clock. 



" Accustomed to this life, the boys are very 

 little overcome by fatigue, except that early in the 

 morning they may be drowsy. 1 have sometimes 

 fallen slightly asleep at the beginning of the first 

 brushing gallop. But if they are not weary, they are 

 hungry, and they make themselves ample amends 

 for all they have done. Nothing perhaps can ex- 

 ceed the enjoyment of a stable-boy's breakfast ; 

 what, then, may be said of mine, who had so long 

 been used to suffer hunger, and so seldom found 

 the means of satisfying it ? Our breakfast con- 

 sisted of new milk, or milk porridge, then the 



