Crumbs Swept Up. Complete Ed

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879 Excerpt: ...resolved to change places with each other, but in crossing over from stem to stem, they fell at the feet of a heart's-ease. Just as I expected! said Heart's-ease. You might better have stayed in your places! RIDING THE HORSE TO BROOK. jN these days, if a boy would go a horsebacking, he must have gay caparison--saddle of the best leather, stirrups silvered, martingales bestarred, housing flamboyant, tasselled whip, jingling spurs, gauntletted hands, and crocodile boots, able to swallow him to above the knee. But we are persuaded that is not the way for a boy to ride. About seven o'clock in the morning, the farm-horses having had oats and currying, must be taken to the brook for the watering. The halter is caught into a half-hitch around the horse's nose, and, bringing him to the fence, the boy leaps astride. It is no rare occurrence that, in his avidity to get aboard, the boy slides off on the other side of the animal, and it is fortunate if the latter, taking advantage of the miscalculation, does not fly away with a wild snort, finding his way to the brook. But once thoroughly mounted, the rope-halter is helm and sail sufficient. It is very easy to guide a thirsty horse when you want to take him to water. A poke of your bare feet into his ribs, and a strong pull of the rope, are enough to bring him back from any slight divergencies. Passing through the bars, all you have to do is to gather up your feet ou his warni smooth back, and having passed the post, again drop anchor. Nothing looks more spirited or merry than a boy's feet bouncing against the sides of a glistening bay. The horse feels them, and the more briskly gallops down the lane. At his first plunge into the brook his sudden stop would have sent the boy somersaulting into t...