ittle ones, it is I who teach them to ride. When they seem frightened
or a little unsteady on my back, I go as smooth and as quiet as old
pussy when she is after a bird; and when they are all right I go on
again faster, you see, just to use them to it; so don't you trouble
yourself preaching to me; I am the best friend and the best
riding-master those children have. It is not them, it is the boys;
boys," said he, shaking his mane, "are quite different, they must be
broken in, as we were broken in when we were colts, and just be taught
what's what. The other children had ridden me about for nearly two
hours, and then the boys thought it was their turn, and so it was, and I
was quite agreeable. They rode me by turns, and I galloped them about,
up and down the fields and all about the orchard, for a good hour. They
had each cut a great hazel stick for a riding whip, and laid it on a
little too hard; but I took it in good part, till at last I thought we
had had enough, so I stopped two or three times by way of a hint. Boys
think a horse or pony is like a steam engine, and can go as long and as
fast as they please; they never think that a pony can get tired, or have
any feelings; so as the one who was whipping me could not understand, I
just rose up on my hind legs and let him slip off behind--that was all;
he mounted me again, and I did the same. Then the other boy got up, and
as soon as he began to use his stick, I laid him on the grass, and so
on, till they were able to understand, that was all. They were not bad
boys; they don't wish to be cruel. I like them very well; but you see I
had to give them a lesson. When they brought me to James and told him, I
think he was very angry to see such big sticks. He said they were not
for young gentlemen."

"If I had been you," said Ginger, "I would have given those boys a good
kick, and that would have given them a lesson."

"No doubt you would," said Merrylegs; "but then I am not quite such a
fool as to anger our master or make James ashamed of me; besides, those
children are under my charge when they are riding; I tell you they are
entrusted to me. Why, only the other day I heard our master say to Mrs.
Blomefield, 'My dear madam, you need not be anxious about the children;
my old Merrylegs will take as much care of them as you or I could; I
assure you I would not sell that pony for any money, he is so perfectly
good-tempered and trustworthy'; and do you think I am such an ungrate