16 Memoir of Tom Smith. 



mii'al -vras a very great weight; and on liis 

 return lie complained sadly of tlie rongli ride 

 he liad liad, saying, sailor-like, that he '^must 

 be fresh coppered;" but his horse seemed to 

 haA'e the "worst of it, for it fell dead lame, and 

 had to be tiu-ned out into the marshes for some 

 months. At last it was found that it had not 

 been crippled by the twenty stone or so of the 

 future victor at Algiers, but had been lamed 

 by a sharp flint, which in due time worked out 

 at the coronet, between the hair and hoof. 



Shortly after this, the premature death of 

 Mr. Smith entirely altered the prospects of his 

 eldest son, as he considered it his duty to sacri- 

 fice his o^TL inclinations in order the better to 

 assist his widowed mother. Mrs. Smith was a 

 woman of extraordinary energy and ability; 

 but she had twelve children to provide for, 

 and it was resolved that the eldest should give 

 up his promised career in the army, and, in- 

 stead, take charge of the farm, which was an 

 extensive one. The friend who had end^a- 



