LEARNING. 



certainly, who ride with a great show of 

 boldness, and tear wildly across country after 

 hounds, averring that they never knew what 

 fear meant : why should they — having ridden 

 from the time they were five years old? 

 Very probably, but the bravery of the few is 

 nothing by which to judge of a system which 

 is, on the whole, pernicious. It is less objec- 

 tionable for boys, because their shoulders are 

 not apt to grow awry by sitting sideways, as 

 little girls' do ; nor are they liable to hang 

 over upon one side; nor have they such 

 deHcate frames and weakly fingers to bring to 

 the front. Moreover, if they tumble off, what 

 matter ? It does them all the good in the 

 world. A little sticking-plaister and shaking 

 together, and they are all right again. But 

 I confess I don't like to see a girl come off. 

 Less than a year ago a sweet httle blue-eyed 

 damsel who was prattling by my side as she 

 rode her grey pony along with me, was thrown 

 suddenly and without warning upon the road. 

 The animal stumbled — her tiny hands lacked 

 the strength to pull him together — she was 

 too childish and inexperienced to know the art 



