FIRST DAYS IN HANTS AND BERKS. 29 



the prayers that my father used to read to the 

 assembled household in his library, I do not 

 remember, but once free, Campbell and I would 

 make for the stable, and leading our mare Bessie 

 away to a field, we jumped and tumbled and 

 tauofht Bessie and ourselves tricks to our hearts' 

 content. 



Bessie, a clever chestnut mare, learnt her 

 lessons very creditably, though it is a wonder 

 we did not kill ourselves in our character of 

 instructors. A favourite performance of ours 

 was to take Bessie out in a snaffle-bridle, with 

 the reins fastened only to a roller, and then 

 start her cantering round the yard, whilst we 

 ran by turns by her side and vaulted on to 

 her back. This feat took some practice, and 

 I found it very difficult at first to keep my 

 balance. Campbell had a fearful fall one day, 

 and I have often wondered since that he was 

 not killed. He insisted on trying to balance 

 himself on one leg, while he put his other foot 

 on the mare's head between her eyes. This 

 unusual treatment Bessie resented, and, duck- 

 ing her head at the critical moment, away 

 went my brother on to the hard ground. At 

 last my father caught us in the act of some 

 of our finest exploits, and pronouncing the 

 amusement to be both ridiculous and dangerous, 

 as undoubtedly it was, we had to give it up. 



A horse named Tom that carried me for nine 

 seasons was given to me by my brother, and 



