Sir Abraham took the hint, and the horse never kicked again at the King Charles in the Oak.
To all their dues, let no man flinch to pay, If he would prosper in an honest way; Customs are good, if carried not too far, And a good custom, oft prevents a jar; Sir Abraham"s horse no more gave out his kicks, Nor John nor Bill on travellers played tricks.
CHAPTER VII.
_How to prevent a Horse slipping his Girth._
"My dear Gambado," said Lord Rosier to the Doctor, "I know not how I shall ever repay you for your good advice. I am your debtor, for two things; first for inducing me to take up horseback exercise again, and then for recommending me to your friend John Tattsall, who has furnished me with a most excellent trotter, and one that does one good to ride it."
"I am glad to hear it, my Lord: but to what purpose is your visit to me this morning? You look the picture of health; I hope nothing is the matter."
"Oh! dear no! Nothing is the matter with me; but, I thought I might, without any intentional offence, just call and speak to you about the horse. I hope I do not offend."
"By no means, my Lord; pray go on. Your Lordship will not impute to me any thing wrong in the character of the horse?"
[Ill.u.s.tration]
"By no means, Doctor; by no means. I only sought your advice, because I thought you so skillful that you could get me into the right method of treating a horse."
"Humph!"
This was the first direct slap at the Doctor"s _veterinary powers_. He had a request from York to bring with him a _veterinary surgeon_; but he was now consulted by a British n.o.bleman about the treatment of a horse.
Well, thought the Doctor, let us hear the complaint; for after all it may be the fault of the rider more than of the beast.
"What is the matter, my Lord?"
"It is simply this,--the creature, though in every other respect a suitable one, has a strange propensity or habit of slipping his girths; so that when I have rode out a mile or two, I find myself upon his rump; and once, indeed, I happened to let go the reins, and the saddle came over his tail, and I slipped off behind. He then quietly walked out of his saddle and went away, leaving me to carry my own saddle to the nearest hostelry, and to have a walk home, instead of a ride."
"My Lord, you acknowledge that it was your own fault for letting go the reins. Never, under any circ.u.mstances, let the reins go out of your own hands; if you do, you are sure to have a fall. The same, my Lord, with all who hold the reins of government; a tight rein can always be sufficiently slackened, when an improvement is required in the pace; but once let them entirely go, and you have no longer any power to guide.
Your horse must run away, and you must have a fall."
"But what is a man to do, when he finds that the animal he rides gets the bit into his mouth, and bores so strongly upon his arms that it gives him the cramp in his muscles to hold the reins in his hands?"
"There you puzzle me. I confess, I should very soon give up riding such a horse altogether. But," said the Doctor, looking at his watch, "if you do not mind walking with me as far as Tattsall"s, I think John could give you better advice upon this head than I can. Come, it is worth the trouble."
"With all my heart: I esteem it a favour. My groom shall lead the horse to his stables, and we will walk on after him."
The Doctor and his n.o.ble patient were soon in John Tattsall"s yard.
"John, I have brought Lord Rosier to you, to learn a lesson. He is in a fix about a horse he bought of you, which he approves in every other respect but that of slipping his girth; can you tell the gentleman how to prevent it?"
"To be sure I can, Doctor, if the gentleman will only condescend to give me a little attention. I will mount the horse myself, and show him how I prevent the horse from slipping his girths." He did so; and when he gave up the horse, he said, "There, sir, observe what I have done.
"Stick your feet, my Lord, home in the stirrups, press all your weight thereupon, and so push the saddle forward. If the horse bores upon your arms, bore him well with your legs the moment he lifts his head; the saddle, if it has slipped, will immediately regain its position. And when he bores his head down again, you have nothing to do but to repeat the boring him in his sides; and as the horse suits your Lordship so well, this will only form a little agreeable variety of exercise for the benefit of your Lordship"s health; which I am heartily glad to find so greatly improved."
"Thank you, John; thank you, it will do, it will do!"
"Tis a bore, a horse to ride, Slipping girths from side to side; "Tis a bore with many pains, For a man to lose the reins.
Keep your seat, and keep command, And hold your bridle well in hand: Fast and firm the steed will go.
And slips and slides you"ll never know.
CHAPTER VIII.
_How to ride without a Bridle._
"Doctor, what am I to do?" said Mr. Broadcloth, the wealthy tailor of Bond-street. "Here am I, just fifty years of age, now in the prime of life, and cannot enjoy a moment"s content. I have forty-nine hands at work for me, in my shop every day, beside piece-work out-doors. I have six runners of errands; four porters, to carry out my goods, and to bring me home work. Beside all this, I have such incessant customers to be measured, and coats to make, that from morning to night I hear nothing but snip go, snip go, snip go! and although I work like a journeyman, I half wish I was one of my own porters, and could go from house to house for fresh air and exercise."
"Oh, my dear sir!" said the Doctor, "you must ride on horseback,--you must indeed! you must be a journey-man yourself,--carry out your clothes to Clapham, and find yourself all the better in health and spirits."
[Ill.u.s.tration]
"Doctor, I have heard that all who can do as you bid them, are sure to recover."
"The first of all blessings is health,--for without it Men may think there"s enjoyment in life,--but I doubt it."
"Then recover yourself, and you will own my advice to be good."
"What shall I do for a horse?"
"Do as everybody else does,--go to John Tattsall"s, and get the horse that will suit you. I shall be glad to see you on one."
The tailor was soon mounted;--but it is one thing to be mounted,--another to be seated.
He soon complained to Mr. Tattsall, that the horse he had bought of him would not mind the bridle.
"Then," says John, "ride him without one. In fact, your horse did belong to a lame letter-carrier, and he never rode him with a bridle. You may have one round his neck by way of a check rein; but this horse, you will find, will never deceive you.
"You have nothing to do but to mount, and say, "Go on:" he will be off in a gentle canter along the gutter, keeping close to the pavement, avoiding the lamp posts, oyster stalls, orange tables, trucks, and barrows; and whenever you say "Wo-ho," he will make a dead stop. You may get off, and wait an hour, if you like, he will never stir, but will know how to take care of himself; only give him a bit of carrot or an apple, just to let him know you are his master, as the poor old lame duck did,--and you may mount and say "Go on," and "Wo-ho," twenty times in a day,--and he will obey you. You will not need a bridle or a rein."
Mr. Broadcloth did so,--and never complained of his horse after,--and quite recovered of his complaint.
Go on!--wo-ho! Good words will all command, And gentle treatment bring the steed to hand.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
CHAPTER IX.