130 LADIES ON HOESEBACK. 



with the utmost placidity ; although I must 

 confess he was naughty enough to cast back 

 an eye, which augured no good to the gallant 

 representative of Her Majesty's service. He 

 mounted without difficulty, took up the reins, 

 and evidently prepared for a struggle; but 

 none such ensued. Bigwig tucked his tail 

 very tight to his body, walked quietly for- 

 ward for a yard or two, and then, suddenly 

 standing up as straight as a whip, the defeated 

 major slid over his tail upon the hard ground, 

 whilst the horse trotted back to his box. 



I have related for you this anecdote, not 

 merely for your amusement, but to teach you 

 never to boast. A braggart is ever the first to 

 faU, and nobody sympathizes with him. If 

 you become ever so successful in your manage- 

 ment of horses, do not exert yourself to pro- 

 claim it. Suffer others to find it out if they 

 will ; but do not tell them of it, lest some 

 day you share the fate of the prostrate and 

 discomfited major. 



