ForthreeyearsandahalfofmylifeIhadhadallthelibertyIcouldwishfor;butnow,weekafterweek,monthaftermonth,andnodoubtyearafteryear,ImuststandupinastablenightanddayexceptwhenIamwanted,andthenImustbejustassteadyandquietasanyoldhorsewhohasworkedtwentyyears.
Ionlymeantosaythatforayounghorsefullofstrengthandspirits,whohasbeenusedtosomelargefieldorplainwherehecanflinguphisheadandtossuphistailandgallopawayatfullspeed,thenroundandbackagainwithasnorttohiscompanions—Isayitishardnevertohaveabitmorelibertytodoasyoulike.
Sometimes,whenIhavehadlessexercisethanusual,IhavefeltsofulloflifeandspringthatwhenJohnhastakenmeouttoexerciseIreallycouldnotkeepquiet;dowhatIwould,itseemedasifImustjump,ordance,orprance,andmanyagoodshakeIknowImusthavegivenhim,especiallyatthefirst;buthewasalwaysgoodandpatient.
"Steady,steady,myboy,"hewouldsay;"waitabit,andwewillhaveagoodswing,andsoongetthetickleoutofyourfeet."
Thenassoonaswewereoutofthevillage,hewouldgivemeafewmilesataspankingtrot,andthenbringmebackasfreshasbefore,onlyclearofthefidgets,ashecalledthem.
Spiritedhorses,whennotenoughexercised,areoftencalledskittish,whenitisonlyplay;andsomegroomswillpunishthem,butourJohndidnot;heknewitwasonlyhighspirits.
Ifhewasveryseriousandquitedetermined,Ialwaysknewitbyhisvoice,andthathadmorepowerwithmethananythingelse,forIwasveryfondofhim.
Ioughttosaythatsometimeswehadourlibertyforafewhours;thisusedtobeonfineSundaysinthesummer-time.ThecarriageneverwentoutonSundays,becausethechurchwasnotfaroff.
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