New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-14

theie. how he kisses you and icks your face and
see how be lifts his loot, that's 10 shake hands.
You may trust him-nOw you are on his back Al
last; mind bow you hold the bridle-gensly,
gently It's not four pair Of b snds like yours caa
bold him II ne wishes u be OIL Mind what tell
you-leaye Il ali 20 him
Oh went the cob 81 a slow and gentle trot. too
last and rough, however, Ter 10 inexperienced q
rider / soon felt ysef sliding Off the animal
perceived il too, and instantly stood stone skill t
/ had righted myself; and now the groom came
up; Nv hen you feel yourself going" said he.
don't lay hold Of the msne, that's no use mana
never yer saved man from falling, no more than
straw from drowning IFS bis sides you must cling
10 nth your calves and leet I'll you learn to bal.
ance yourself That's IL. now abroad with YOU.
III bet my comrade pot Of beer that yoaI BE- 4
regular rough rider by Tire time you come back"
Aud so it proved, / followed the directions Of
the groom, and the COB gave me every assistance.
How easy is riding, after the first timidity is got
over, TO supple aud youthful limbs; and there Is
second fear The creature soon found that tia
nerves of bis rider were in proper tone. Taruinx
his head half round he made a kind of whiainS
noise, fang out little foam, and set of.
In less than two hours hao made the circuit o!
the Devils Mountain. and was returning along
the road, bsthed with perspiraton, but screaming
with delight; the cob laughing IN bis equine way,
scattering foam and pebbles 10 the left and right
and trottihg at the rate OF sixteen miles hoar.
Oh, that ride that first ride most truly i
was an epoch in my existence and l still look
back 70 il with feelings Of longing and regret.
People may talk of first loye-it is very agreea.
bic event, l dare say-but give me the hush and
triumph, and glorious sweat of first ride, Like
mine on the mighty cob My whole frame vas
shaken, il is true; and during one long week /
could hardly move foot or hand bat what OF that
By that one trial had become free as may say,
Of the whole equine species. No more fatigue,
no more stiffness OF joints. alter that hrst ride
round the Devils Hill on the cob.
Oh that cob; that Irish cob -may the sod lie
lightly over the bones of the strongest spccdest,
and most gallant Of IT'S kind Ohl Toe days
when, issuing from the barack gate Of Temple
more, we commenced our hurry skurry iust as ln-
clnetion led-now across the helds-direet over
stone walls and running brooks-mere pestine
for the cobi-sometimes along the road 70 Iharles
and Holy Cross, even 10 distant Cahlr what
was distance to the cob
twas thus that the passion for the equine race
was first awakened within me-a passion which,
up to the present time, has been rather on the in
crease than diminishing. IL is no blind passion;
the horse being a noble and generous creature,
intended by the All-Wise to be the helper and
friend Of man, to whom he stands next IN the
order Of creation. On many occasions o. my ms
have been much indebted to the horse, and have
found in him friend and ooadjutor, when human
help and sympathy were not 10 be obtained. Ii
is therefore natural enough that should love the
horse but the love which | entertain for him has
always been blended with respect for | soon
perceived that, though disposed TO be tho friend
and helper Of man, he is by no means inclined 70
be bis slave; in which respect he differs from
the dog, who will crouch when beaten; whereas
the horse spurns for he is aware oil his own
worth and that he carries death within the horn
of bis heel If. therefore, found it easy to love
the horse, | found it equally natural to respect
him.
much question whether philoogy, or thu pas
sion for languages requires so lttle Of an apology
IS the love for horses. IL has been said, DO.
leve, that the more languages a man speaks, the
more a man is he which is very true, provided
be acquires languages as medium for becoming
acquainted with the thoughts and feelings Of tho
various sections into which the human race 10
divided but, in that case, he should rather be
termed philosopher than philOOglst-between
which two the difference is wide indeedl An
individual may speak and read dozen languagess
and vet be an exceedingly poor creature, scarcely
! half a man; and the pursuit of tongues for their
| own sake and the mere satisfaction Of acquiring
! them, surely argues an intellect OF very 0w
order a mind disposed 10 be satisfied with mean
and gToveling things taking more pleasure In
the trumpery casket than In the precious treasure
| which It contains; in the pursuit of words, than
! in the acquisition of ideas
| cannot help thinking that it was fortune for
my SELF who am, to a certain extent, philologS-
that with me the pursuit OF languages has been
always modified by tue love Of horses for scarce.
y had | turned my mind 10 the former, when l
also mounted the wild cob, and hurried forth IN
the direction of the Devils Hill, scattering dust
and flint stones on every side that ride, among
other things taught mo that a lad with thewk
and snews was intended by nature for something
better than mere word.culling aud If have &C.
complished any thing in after life worthy OF men,
tioning, | believe il may partly be attributed 10
the ideas which that ride, by setting my blood in
glow, infused into my brain. | might, otherwise,
have become mere philologist; one Of those be-
ings who toll night and day in culling useless
words for some opus m0gnnm which Murray will
never publish and nobody ever read beings with
out enthusiasm, who, having never mounted
generous steed, cannot detect good point Ia
Pegasus himself; like q certain philologist, whos
though acquainted with the exact value Of every
word in the Greek and latin languages, could
observe no particular beauty in one OF the most
glorious OF Homers rhapsOdies What knew no
OF Pegasus he had never mounted generous
steed; the merest jockey, had the strain been IN
terpreted TO him, would have called It a brave
song II return TO the brave cob.
On a certain day had been out on an excur'
sion. In crossroad, at some distance from tho
Satanic hill, the animal which rode cast shoes
BY good luck a small village was at hand, at tina
entrance Of which was large shed, from which
proceeded a most furious noise Of hammering.-
Leading the cob by the bride, | entered boldly.
Shoe this horse, and do il quickly cough" SAID
TO wild grimy figure Of a man, whom found
alone, fashioniDg piece Of iron.
"Arrgod yutl said the fellow, desistin8
from bis work, and staring at
"Oh yes, have money" said |, "and Of the
best; " and pulled out an English shilling.
Tabhair chugam !" said the smith, stretching
out his grimy hand
mo shan't" said ! some people are glad
to get their money when their work is done"
The fellow hammered a little longer, and then
proceeded TO shoe the cob. after having first sur
veyed it with attention. He performed bis job
rather roughly, and more than once appeared TO
give the animal unnecessary PAIN frequently max
ing use Of loud and bosterous words. By the
time the work was done, the creature was in q
state Of high excitement, and plunged and tore
The smith stood at a short distance, seeming to
enjoy the irritation Of the animal and showing, ia
q remarkable manner a huge fang which project.