allow a loop of about a foot-and-a-half or two feet in length, to hang from your hand, after passing through it as I described to you just now; this gives greater power and grasp of the reins, in case of the horses showing any disposition for fun or mischief, or both. The other part of the reins-I mean that portion between your hands and the horse's mouth-should be held well up from his back, just tight enough to enable you to feel any movement of his head, but not so tight as to interfere in the least with its play, unless when you desire to convey to him any intimation of your wishes."

"In what position do you hold

your rein-hand," asked Bessie; "inclined upwards or downwards ?"

"The thumb is kept up," answered William, "and the hand rather sideways; that is the back of the hand towards the left side of the road; but, in handling the reins, the back of the hand comes more or less upward-the palm never, or scarcely ever. You should hold your hand a little distance from your body, so as to give you a purchase; this, of course, must depend on the length of arm of the driver; but the lower arm from the elbow should come across the driver's body diagonally, so as to bring the left hand on a level with his chest, and about six or eight inches from it, which will give plenty of pull. In case the horse should trip or stumble, as the best of them will sometimes do, at a loose stone left in the road, a slight check or 'even pull' on both reins at once will lift his head and keep him on his legs, and thus prevent that worst blemish to the horse, and one most disgraceful to the driver-broken knees. Mr. Gathergem says he has been

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frequently amused in his own case, by observing how perfectly mechanical an action the giving this check has become with him; his hand executing the motion before he is conscious of the trip which called it forth."

"What are his instructions with regard to the whip?" asked Bessie Mountain, "I hope not very stringent." "On the contrary, he recommends very sparing use of the lash,” said William, "averring that quite as much is usually to be done with encouraging words and sounds, as with severity; that in an open uninterrupted road the best place for the whip is the whip-case; but that in places where you are likely to meet or pass others, it is safer to hold it lightly in the right hand to be prepared for anything that may happen."

"The scientific drivers, I believe," said Mr. Warden, "think it best to hold the whip with the third and fourth fingers and thumb of the right hand; thus the first and second fingers of that hand are at liberty to assist the left one by pulling in any rein that may require it."

"If I lived in the country," said Mr. Singleton, "I think one of my first ambitions would be to learn to ride perfectly. With all my supreme love for a good stout walk, I still acknowledge the glory of horseback:

"What delight

To back the flying steed, that challenges
The wind for speed! Seems native more of air
Than earth! Whose burden only lends him fire!
Whose soul, in his task, turns labour into sport!
Who makes your pastime his! I sit him now!
He takes away my breath! He makes me reel!
'I touch not earth-I see not-hear not. All
Is ecstasy of motion !" "

"Come down here, and stay with us for some time, Singleton, and we'll try to teach you to sit a horse," said Mr. Warden; "the boys both ride tolerably already, so we

can have many a good gallop together in the green lanes hereabout. In the meantime, you can do a good deal in

the way of preparing yourself for our future lessons, by practising in your own London chambers with a chair." "A chair!" exclaimed Mr. Singleton.

"Yes; fasten your rein (or even a piece of tape of the same length will do as well at first) to the upper part of the outside rails of the back of a chair; pull the reins enough to raise two of the legs off the ground and to keep the chair balanced on the remaining two; in this way you may practise the right manner of holding the reins, and

most of the delicate indications of the hands by which you chiefly guide a horse. In military riding, where the right hand is required for the use of weapons, it is usual to hold the reins in the left hand merely, but it is far safer in general riding to use both hands to the bridle. The reins should not cross, when thus held, but should be completely separated, one in each hand, passing outside the fourth. finger and between the forefinger and thumb. The elbows should on no account touch the sides; not raised too high, but hanging freely and gracefully. The back of the hands held rather towards the front, the wrists slightly down, supple, easy, and a little rounded. Be very careful never to jerk or shake your reins; let all your actions be gradual, though firm. In turning to the right, draw the right rein, in turning to the left, the left rein. Where the rider uses both hands to his reins, this of course is easy enough, but in holding them merely in the left hand, care must be taken, otherwise the very action of moving your hand in the direction in which you wish the horse to proceed, is apt to slacken the rein on that side, and tighten it on the other, which of course would produce the very reverse of the effect you desire."

"It was evident the Greeks used both hands to the reins," said Mr. Singleton, "as we find by those exquisite figures in the bas-reliefs among the Elgin and Townley marbles; whenever you come to London, William, I will take you to the British Museum, and show you those perfect models of graceful horsemanship, in return for your practical lessons on riding."

"In sitting a horse, the knees and calves of the legs should slightly press the saddle and sides of the animal,” said Mr. Warden, "and the feet should be kept parallel with the rider's body, and should hang near, but not touch

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TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

ing, the horse's sides; the toes, if anything, turned inwards, and the heels pressed down."

"What do you advise in the case of a horse shying?" asked Mr. Singleton, "for I confess I have a notion I should be sorely perplexed in such a case."

"It is a very common, but a very erroneous notion," answered Mr. Warden, "that a horse is cured of shying by making him face the object of his fear, and then punishing him with whip and spur to teach him better manners next time. Now, with a reasoning creature like a child, who conjures up some whimsical alarm about a ghostly figure behind a closet door, it may be as well to lead him up to the cause of his terror, and by proving to him that it is only a white dressing-gown, or a heap of clothes hung up, thus cure him of his groundless fear; but, with a timid, shrinking animal, like a horse, with which it is impossible to reason upon the real nature of the thing he dreads, and to tell him that a heap of white stones is quite harmless and quiet, and won't come to him if he don't go to it, why I think it far safer to humour him; never on any account to chastise him, as he would necessarily hereafter associate