The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-09-05

Dut nc III THROW YOU
Throw me-" And laughed mcrrily and
incrcdulouslv. Say yes. uncle dear" ! con-
tinued. coaxingly. there's nothing to fear:
ard I'm diving for a canter."
You'll die of a canter. then" he retOrtcd.
with his grim wit. for he will break Your
neck. The horse has only been ridden three
times, twice bv myself. and once by Joe.
But you've often said | was better rider
than Joe" Joe was the Stable boy. That's
Il good uncle. nov do" And | threw my
arms about his neck and kissed him.
knew. by experience. that. when did this
l generally carried the day. My uncle tried
to look stern. but saw he was rcicntins. He
made last effort to deny me.
WHY not take Dobbm:'" he said.
"Dobbin." | cried "Old snail-paced
Dobbin. on such morning IS this. One
might as well ridca rocking horse at once.
w ell. we'll" said he. if must. ! must.
You'll tease the life out me if don't let vou
have your way. wish You'd get a husband.
Won mink. you're growing beyond II! con-
troll"
"Humph \ husband. Well. since YOU
say so. Ill begin to look out for one to-day.
Hell soon repent of his bargain" said
nv uncle but his smile hclicd his words.
You're as cross as pie crus: i: You can't
have your own way There. seeing | WIS
about to speak. go and get ready. while !
tell Joe to saddle Milo. You'll set the house
aiirc if don't send YOU OF.
Milo was soon at the door. CAV. nc:tle
some colt. who laid his ears back as mount
cd. and gave Il vicious look did not quite
like
Take care" said my uncle. Its not
too late Vet to give II up.
was piq"el.
Never give up ANYTHING" | said.
Not even the finding of 4 husband. ch?"
NO. I'll ride down to the poor house and
ask old Toby. the octngcnarian. to have me
and You'll he forced 10 hire Poll Wilkes to
cook vour dinner" And a> said this. mv
c,c> twinklcd mi>chicvous!v. for uncle was an
old bachelor Who dctc>;ed all strange women.
and had special aversion to Poll Wilkes.
a sour old maid of tortv-scvcn. because wears
ago She had plotted TO cntrap him into mat
rimomv Before he could reply. gave Milo
his head.
John Gilpin we arc told went fast: hut !
went faster. At first | tried to check his
speed: but he got the bit into his teeth: and
al could do was to hold on and trust to tir-
inS him ont. Trees fences and houses went
b. us like wild pigeons on the wing.
As long a> the road was clear. we did well
enough. but suddenly coming to abla>tcd oak
that started out. >pcctrc-like. from the edge
of wood. Milo shicd. twisted half around
and planted his forctcct stubbornlv in tn,
ground. | did not know | WAS falling till
tcl. myself in Il mud hole. which lay at OH,
side of the road.
Here was fine end to my boastcd horse
manship. But as the mud was soft. WI,
not hurt and the ludricous spectacle pre-
>cntcd soon got the upper hand of nv vcxa
ton. "A fine chance | have Cor finding
husband i'll this condition" l said to myself
recalling my jest with uncle. IF Icould sc,
some mud drvad now. and pass myself of fol
mud nymph. | mi Sht have chance Ant
began to pick myself up.
"Shall help YOU Miss ?" suddenly said
deep. rich. manly voice.
looked up. and saw Young man. .h,
suppressed mcrrimcnt of whose black cvc
brought the blood to nv check. ard mad,
s me ashland and angry. But on glancins again
at my dress. | could not help laughing in spit,
Of myself. stood in the mud. at least 81,
inches above the tops OF my shoes. NV rid
was almost impossible to tell of what it wa
made. My hands and arms were mud t,
my elbows. for had in>;inc,i,cly cxtcndc,
them as fell. i'll order to save myself.
The Young man as he spoke turned to tn
ncig ghborng fence. and taking off the top raj
placed it across the puddle. then putting hi
arms around my waist. he lifted me on
though not without leaving my shoes behind
While he was fishing these out, which he be
t gan Immediately to do. stole behind the en-
ormous old oak, to hide my blushing face. an
+ scrape the mud from my stockings and rid
;, ing skirt. had managed to get the first
Il little cleaner. but the last was still as thic
J. with mud as ever. when my companion mad
S his appearance with the missing shoes, whic
- he had scrapcd till they were quite present;
;, able. and leading Milo by the bride
- pray let me see YOU home" he said, :"
I YOU will mount again, Ill lead the colt: an
d there will be no chance of his repeating hi
p tricks"
could not answer for shame, but when
the saddle muttered something about " nc
IL troubling him."
e It's no trouble. not in the least" he n
piled. standing hat in hand like a knight
Il cavalier. and still retaining his hold on tn
:, bride, and really can't let YOU go alon
u for the colt is as vicious as he can be to-da,
l. Look at his ears and the red in his cves
Is saw YOU coming down the road. an
70 expected YOU to be thrown every minute, ii
saw how we'll YOU rode Nor would it ha,
~ happened if he hadn't wheeled and stoppe
IS like trick horse in the circus"
l cannot tell how soothing was this graccf
r. way of excusing my mishap. stole glanc
~ under my eyelids. at the speaker, and. sa
Al that he was very handsome and gentleman
and apparently about six and twenty. or SCI
Il eral years older than mvsclf
a. l had hoped that uncle would be out in II
y, fields overlooking the men; but as we ente
III ed the gate. saw him sitting provokingly
G. the open window; and by the time | h;
2: sprung to the ground. he had come out. h
b. eyes brim full of mischief dared not
~ stop, but turning to my escort, said, N
~ uncle, sir :; won't you walk in" and thenrus
ed up stairs.
ne In about half all hour, just as had dies