The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-06-27


so much progress in horsemanship, that shl
insisted on mounting my hackney, full siz
cd welbred animal, and putting me on tn,
rat-pony. When INDUCED her in this fan
cy-for of course she had her own way
had the satisfaction of being rewarded by he
roars of laughter at the ridiculous figure cut
ambling beside her respectable uncle, on hi
cart-horse cob, with legs close to the ground
with my nose peering over the little Wclch
m'n's shaggy ears, while my fairy gallopet
around us, drawing all sorts ofriliculous COM
parisons This was bad enough, but when
Captain Egret, the nephew Of my charmer's
aunt's husband, a handsome fellow, with SO
lovely grey horse, with such tail" as Laura
described it. came up from Chester to stay
q few days. could stand my-rat pony no
longer, and felt much too i'll to ride out; so
stood at the window of my lodgings with my
shirt collar turned down, and Byron in my
hand opened at one Of the most murlerous
passages, watching Laura on my chestnut,
and Captain Egret on his grey, cantering over
the deserted bed of the Dee. They were an
aggraya,ingly handsome couple, and the exist
ing state of the law on manslaughter ena-
bled me to derive no satisfaction from the
hints contained in the "Giaour" or the "Cor-
sair.n Those were our favorite books of ref
erence for Young England in those days
Indeed we were all amateur pirates, and fel-
ons in theory: but when l had been cast
down in disgust at the debased state of civil
lization, which prevented me from challcn-
ging Captain Egret to single combat, with
Laura for the pride of the victor, instead of
cell in Chester Caitle, my eyes fell on an adj
vcrtisemcnt in local paper, which turned
my thoughts into new channel, of "soIe Of
blood stock, Hunters and HacAasys, at Plas*"
4, near lIolywell.
| determined to give up murder, and buy
another horse, for could ride as well as the
Captain; and then what glorious teie-a-tetcs
| could have, with my hand on the pummcl
of Laura's siIe-sad,lle. The idea put me in
good-humor. Regimcntal duties having sud-
denly called Captain Egret,I spcht delight
fnl evening with Laura she quite approved
cfmyproiect, and begged that Ishould choose
a horse "with long taiand ofa prettycolour,"
which is every young lady's idea of what
horse should be.
Accordingly mounted my chestnut on a
bright morning of July, and rode across to T,
Flint, accompanied by man TO bring back .
my intended purchase. II was dead low wa
Ter; when, full of happy thoughts, in the still .
warm silence of the summer morning, hold .
ing my eager horse hard in, rode at foot .
pace across the smooth, hard, wave-markcd,
bed of the river There was not cloud in
he sky. The sun, rising slowly, cast a gol-
len glow over the sparkling sand. Pat-pat-
oit-pat, went my horses feet, not loud enough
o disturb the busy crows and gulls seeking
heir breakfast; they were not afraid Of me,
hey knew had no gun. remember it;
cc it ail before me as if it were yesterday,
or it was one Of the most delicious moments
# my life Butt screaming gulls and whist
ing curlews were put = digit, before had
lalf crossed the rivers bed, by the cheerful
halter, laughter, and fragments of Welsh
.is sung in chorus by hearty crowd of
ockle and muscle gathercrs, fishermen, and
armcFs wives, on their way to tho market on
he Cheshire >i1e--men, women Qhey were
he maioriiy.) and children on foot, on ponies
II donkcys, and in little carts. Exchanging
.ood hRU.orcd jokes, l passed on until
ame to theforl of the channel, where the
liver runs between banks of deep soft sand.
II low water, at certain points, IN summer,
t is but few inches deep; bat after heavy
aims, and soon after the turning of the tide,
he depth increases rapidly.
At the ford met a second detachment of
Welsh peasantry preparing to cross, by ma
ing bundles Of shoes and stockings, and
lcking up petticoats very dcfly. Great was
he fun anl splashing, aud plenty of jokes on
be jSarse and his rel horse going the wrong
,ay. The Welsh girls in this part Of the
onntry are very pretty, with beautiful COM
lexions, a gleam Of gold in their dark hair,
nd an easy graceful walk, from the habit Of
arrying the water-pitchers from the wells on
heir heads. The scene made me feel anv-
hing but melancholy OF ill-natHred. I could
OF help turning back to help a couple of lit
C damscls across, pillioh-wise, who seemed
,rribly afraid of wetting their finery at the
,ot ford:
Having passed the channels, the wheels
nd footnarks formed plain direction for a !
ife route, which, leaving Flint Castle on the
glIt, brought me into the certre Of Flint,
ithout any need of a guide. The rest Of
" road was straightforward and coHInon- ,
lace. 1 reached the farm where the sale
as TO take place, in time for breakfast, and
as soon lost in crowd Of country squires,
Welsh parsons, fanners, horsedealers and ,
rooms.
Late in the day purchased brown stsll-
n, with strain Of Arab blood, rather Under c