The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-07-09


bright Juno morning, as we sat at tho
breakfast table.
Ride Mio!"
ayes ! It's such a beautiful day."
But he'll throw your
"Throw me-" And / laughed mcrrily
and increduousIy. "Say yes, uncle dear"
l continued, coaxingly, there's nothing to
fear; and Pm dying for cautcr."
You'll Gic Of canter then" he rotor
ted, with his grim wit, "for he'll break your
neck. The horse has only been ridden
three times, twice by myself, and once by
joe"
But you've often said was better RI
der than joe" Joe was the stablc-boy.-
"Thats good uncle, now do" And I
threw my arms about his neck and kissed
him.
knew, by experience, that, when 1 did
this generally carried the day. My unclo
tried to look stern by saw he was rclcn-
ting. lie made a last effort, however, to
deny me.
"Why not take Dobbin 2" he said.
"Dobbinn n' l cried. cold, snail paced
Dobbin, on such a morning as this. One
might as we'll ride a rocking-horse at
once"
"Wcll, WE'LL" he said, eff I must, I must.
You'll tease the life out of me if don't let
you have your way. I wish you'd get a
husband, you mink, you're growing beyond
my control"
"llumph ! A husband. We'll, since
you say SO, I'll begin to look out for one
to-day"
"1le'll soon repent of his bargain" said
my uncle; but his smile bclied his words.
"1oure as cross as pie-crust, if you can't
have your way. There" seeing was about
to speak, ego and get ready, while l tell
Joe to saddle Milo. You'll set the house
afirc if don't send you off,"
Milo was soon at the door, gay, nettlc-
some colt, who laid his cars back As noun
ted, and gave INC vicious look did not
quito like.
Take care" said my uncle. "Irs nc.
too late yet to give it up"
was piqucd.
81 never give up anything" 1 said.
Not even the finding of Il husband,
ch-?n
No. II! ride down to the poor-house
and ask old Toby, the octogcnarian pauper,
to have me; and you'll he forced to hire
Poll Wilkes to cook your dinners" And
as said this, my eyes twinllcd miscievous-
ly, for uncle was all old bachelor, who de.
tested all strange women, and had an cspc.
cial aversion TO Poll Wilkes, sour old
maid Of forty-scvcn, because, years ago, she
had plotted 10 entrap him into matrimony.
Before he could reply, I gave Milo his
| head.
John Gilpin, we arc told, went fast; but
1 went faster. 1t WAS not long before the
colt had it all his own way. at first tried
to check his speed but he got the bit in
his mouth !; and all could do was to hold
on and trust to firing him out. Trees, fem
ces and houses went by us like wild pigeons
OH the wing. As long as the road was
clear, we, did well enough, but suddenly
coming to+a blasted oak, that started ont
spectre-like, from the edge of wood, Milo
shicd, twisted half around and planted his
forefeet stubbornly in the ground. did
not know I was falling, till felt myself in
a mud hole, which lay at one side of tho
road.
Here was fine end 10 my boosted horse
manship! But as the mud was SOFT was
not hurt, and the ludicrous spectacle pre-
sented soon got the upper hand of my vex.
alton. "a fine chance have of finding q
husband, IN this condition." I said to my.
self, recalling my jest with uncle. "If l
could see some mud dryad now, and pass
myself off for mud nymph, I might have
a chance" And began to pick myself
up.
.slall I help you, Miss?" suddenly said
deep, riclstnsalY voice.
looked Up, and saw young man, the
suppressed merriment of whose black eyes
brought tho blood to my check, and made
me, for. an instant, ashamed and angry
But on glancing again at my dress, could
not help laughing in spite of myself i
stood in tbe mud, at least six inches above
the tops Of my shoes. My riding skirt was
possible to tell of what it was made My
hands and arms were mud to the elbows
for had nstinctively extended them, as ]
fell, in order to save myself.
The young man, as he spoke, turned to
the neighboring fence, and taking off the
top rail, placed il across the puddle, then