My First Pony. 29 



quarters of a mile or so out of my way, so I 



used to start off as early as I could^ and take a 



walk up to try and get a look at him. But 



this was not always successful, as sometimes 



he was out with the Doctor or in his stable, or 



he might be at the other end of the field. I 



had many fruitless walks ; but no matter, when 



I did succeed I was amply repaid. But even 



this sight of him was attended with some 



difficulty ; the hedge round the field was too 



thick and too high for me to see through or 



over, and the gate leading to the field was 



always kept locked. Now, this gate was so 



constructed as not only to keep the pony in, 



but to keep small boys out. It was when 



first made, no doubt, an ordinary five-barred 



gate ; but it had been so well braided across, 



antl also with uprights pointed at the top, as 



effectually to answer its twofold purpose, and 



the few peepholes that were left were of such 



narrow proportion as to afford but a very poor 



view. However, there was one way of attaining 



my object, which was by lying full-length on 



the ground and looking underneath the gate. 



I could get, if not a very comfortable, still 



an uninterrupted view. When the pony was 



