Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-09-26
TRUMBULL COUNTY, OHIO, WEDNESDAY

am sure we can manage it."
1 did try again vigorously. 1 per
formed the rule action the second
time. in spite of being told to keep my
joints stiffened. 1 got halfway up the
side of the horse, and clinging to the sad
die, there hung, like Mahomet's coffin.
think, that 1 must have given the look
er's on the benefit of some frog like mo-
tons with my lower limbs, for know 1
worked them vigorously before 1 got to
the saddle. When once there 1 seated
my elf triumphantly, pannier-fashion,
with my face toward uncle Jacks front
door, and my right ear on line with my
horses head.
"Pu' your right limb over the POM
mel" was Phil's next order, with an an
noyed look His face Was dreadlully
flushed, too; no doubt with the effort of
raising one hundred and twenty pounds,
dead weight; and the faultless kid gloves
very much split.
:" Now take up the rein in your left
hand" proceeded Phil, as he gathered
up the reins which had dropped in my
scrambling and gave them to me.
''The left hand '' exclaimed 1, for 1
could argue if 1 could not ride horseback,
''why that's preposterous. As if right
hand was not much stronger and more
dexterous than the left"
"The left hand is the proper one new
ertheless, was the cool rejoinder of my
companion, who was being vexed at the
ridiculous aspect of affairs.
'Well I'll try it, but if do not like it
l shall certainly use the other" said L
resolutely.
happened to glance just then at my
chamber window, and there was that
vixen of Jenny peeping through the
blinds, aud lau hing till the tears ran
down her face. She was gAsticulaling
violently at the same time, and pointing
to my bodice. l looked down, and
found that in my efforts to mount, had
broken off nearly every hook which kept
it together. To drop the reins and
seize my dress by both hands, was the
work of an instant. In the meantime,
the rest of the party had started forward.
My horse followed in hard trot, in spite
of my screaming out ''ho, wo now, stop" |"
and all other phrases in the equine vo-
cabulary. L instinotively grasped my
dress with my left hand, while pulled
on the reins with my right, till jerked
the curb so hard that the horse stood on
his hind feet
Just then Phil missed me, and looked
around. There was an amused expires
sion on his face as he caught sight of me
in this com cal position.
"Don't use your curb, Miss Carry"
he said, "Old Nick isn't used to it."
"Old Nick !" exclaimed.
was in despair. He was known as
one of the toughest, most obstinate beasts
in Summerville. But 1 would not ask
to go back. There was spirit of endu-
rance in me that would have made me
martyr in the days of the earlyichurch.
So l bounded along, rising nearly foot
from the saddle at every step the horse
took, till l felt as if flesh and bones were
beaten to a jelly.
Sometimes my right hand, sometimes
my left, sometimes both hands were en-
ployed to hold in my tormentor. He
seemed to have vicious desire TO keep
half a length ahead OF every other horse
of the party.
elf he would only canter it would be
easier, but he WON'T" said Phil, coming
to my side.
q feel that replied I, grasping at
my bodice again. ''It was very kind in
you to procure me so fine hackney"
L continued bitterly.
Il am very sorry but you decided
10 go at so very late an hour, that every
decent horse in the pace was engaged. "
All this was said with comfortable
feelings of a person who knew that he
was riding splendidly, and looking su-
premely handsome. Brown Tom was
in the best of spirits, and went along in
a slow stately gait, his mouth so light
that the tension of rein did not make a
crease in his masters glove. Pills
Jockey cap was set jauntly on the top of
his brown curls, and his velvet riding
ocat was of the most unexceptionable fit.
What a contrast l presented With
what pins l could find. | had managed |
to stick one here and there in my bod
dice, between the bounces of Old Nick,
but now 1t was requiring whichever hand
l was not using, to keep my hat straight
and the hair out of my eyes. The very
hair that had been so proud OF, in its
length and abundance, nearly drove me
wild At last down it came, and l went
along bounce, bounce, thump, thump,
till it enveloped me like the Lady Godi-
vas.
After an eternity, it seemed to me.
we reached Silver Spring. Never was
a poor soul as glad Of a respite from
torture as | was. | attempted to jump
from my horse, as l saw others do. but
was 50 stiff and bruised that pitched