ThefirstplacethatIcanwellrememberwasalargepleasantmeadowwithapondofclearwaterinit. Someshadytreesleanedoverit,andrushesandwater-liliesgrewatthedeepend. Overthehedgeononesidewelookedintoaplowedfield,andontheotherwelookedoveragateatourmaster'shouse,whichstoodbytheroadside;atthetopofthemeadowwasagroveoffirtrees,andatthebottomarunningbrookoverhungbyasteepbank. WhileIwasyoungIliveduponmymother'smilk,asIcouldnoteatgrass. InthedaytimeIranbyherside,andatnightIlaydownclosebyher. Whenitwashotweusedtostandbythepondintheshadeofthetrees,andwhenitwascoldwehadanicewarmshednearthegrove. AssoonasIwasoldenoughtoeatgrassmymotherusedtogoouttoworkinthedaytime,andcomebackintheevening. Thereweresixyoungcoltsinthemeadowbesidesme;theywereolderthanIwas;somewerenearlyaslargeasgrown-uphorses. Iusedtorunwiththem,andhadgreatfun;weusedtogallopalltogetherroundandroundthefieldashardaswecouldgo. Sometimeswehadratherroughplay,fortheywouldfrequentlybiteandkickaswellasgallop. Oneday,whentherewasagooddealofkicking,mymotherwhinniedtometocometoher,andthenshesaid: "IwishyoutopayattentiontowhatIamgoingtosaytoyou. Thecoltswholivehereareverygoodcolts,buttheyarecart-horsecolts,andofcoursetheyhavenotlearnedmanners. Youhavebeenwell-bredandwell-born;yourfatherhasagreatnameintheseparts,andyourgrandfatherwonthecuptwoyearsattheNewmarketraces;yourgrandmotherhadthesweetesttemperofanyhorseIeverknew,andIthinkyouhaveneverseenmekickorbite. Ihopeyouwillgrowupgentleandgood,andneverlearnbadways;doyourworkwithagoodwill,liftyourfeetupwellwhenyoutrot,andneverbiteorkickeveninplay." Ihaveneverforgottenmymother'sadvice;Iknewshewasawiseoldhorse,andourmasterthoughtagreatdealofher.HernamewasDuchess,butheoftencalledherPet. Ourmasterwasagood,kindman.Hegaveusgoodfood,goodlodging,andkindwords;hespokeaskindlytousashedidtohislittlechildren. Wewereallfondofhim,andmymotherlovedhimverymuch. Whenshesawhimatthegateshewouldneighwithjoy,andtrotuptohim. Hewouldpatandstrokeherandsay,"Well,oldPet,andhowisyourlittleDarkie?" Iwasadullblack,sohecalledmeDarkie;thenhewouldgivemeapieceofbread,whichwasverygood,andsometimeshebroughtacarrotformymother. Allthehorseswouldcometohim,butIthinkwewerehisfavorites. Mymotheralwaystookhimtothetownonamarketdayinalightgig. Therewasaplowboy,Dick,whosometimescameintoourfieldtopluckblackberriesfromthehedge. Whenhehadeatenallhewantedhewouldhavewhathecalledfunwiththecolts,throwingstonesandsticksatthemtomakethemgallop. Wedidnotmuchmindhim,forwecouldgallopoff;butsometimesastonewouldhitandhurtus. Onedayhewasatthisgame,anddidnotknowthatthemasterwasinthenextfield;buthewasthere,watchingwhatwasgoingon;overthehedgehejumpedinasnap,andcatchingDickbythearm,hegavehimsuchaboxontheearasmadehimroarwiththepainandsurprise. Assoonaswesawthemasterwetrottedupnearertoseewhatwenton. "Badboy!"hesaid,"badboy!tochasethecolts. Thisisnotthefirsttime,northesecond,butitshallbethelast. There—takeyourmoneyandgohome;Ishallnotwantyouonmyfarmagain."SoweneversawDickanymore. OldDaniel,themanwholookedafterthehorses,wasjustasgentleasourmaster,sowewerewelloff. 
