The Eskdale Herd-boy | Page 5

Eskdale. "My dear Helen," said the old lady,
when she presented them to her, "I have brought you this side-saddle,
in hopes that it may induce you to conquer your fears of mounting a

horse. I am very anxious, considering the part of the world in which
you live, that you should learn to ride well; as it may be of essential
consequences to you through life. Besides," added she, smiling, "you
know, my dear, that unless you are a good horsewoman, I can never
have the pleasure of seeing you at Melrose; for your dear papa cannot
afford to send you by any other mode of conveyance. Nothing but
practice will ever give you the confidence that is necessary to enable
you to accomplish this; and I hope that, whenever you see pony dressed
in his new saddle and bridle, it will remind you of the great delight that
I shall have in seeing my dear girl riding up to my door at Melrose."
Helen thanked her grandmother, and said she would try if she could
learn; but she hoped her papa would walk close by her side, and make
Bob go very slowly at first. Nothing, she was sure, would give her so
much pleasure as to go and visit her dear grandmamma. Her mother
took an opportunity of speaking to her when they were alone, and told
her that if, in the course of the summer, she had gained a sufficient
command of her pony and a firm seat in her side-saddle, she should
accompany both her parents to Melrose in August, the time when they
usually made their annual visit to the good old lady.
Helen was quite delighted with this promise, and for the moment forgot
what she had to accomplish before her journey could take place.
However, next morning, on going down stairs, after she had finished
her lessons, she found that, though she had forgotten all about learning
to ride, her father had not; for before the little glass door of the study
stood Bob, the pony, ready saddled and bridled, and her papa waiting
anxiously for his little girl's appearance. As soon as he saw her, he
called out, "come Helen, my dear, I am quite ready to give you your
first lesson in riding, and I hope I shall have an expert little scholar."
Helen walked rather slowly towards her papa; and when he took her in
his arms to put her on the pony, she looked a little pale, but as she had
promised to try to learn, she endeavoured to conquer her fears, and
suffered herself to be placed on the saddle very quietly. Her father took
a great deal of pains to show her how to hold her bridle, and how to
manage Bob; and after making him walk gently two or three times
round the green, in front of the house, whilst he himself held her on, Mr.
Martin ventured to leave her seated alone, and only walked by her side.
After repeating this for two or three days, Helen began to feel more

comfortable, and even was glad when her riding hour arrived. In the
course of a week she had ridden as far as the end of the green holm, and
had begun to allow Bob to trot home. In another week she had ventured
on a canter: and for the last month had improved so much as to become
her father's constant companion in all his walks through the parish,
when he went either to visit the sick, or comfort the afflicted; duties
which are conscientiously performed by the Scottish clergy in general,
and by none more regularly than they were by Mr. Martin. Helen now
felt that she was rewarded for all the trouble she had had in conquering
her fears; for, besides the pleasure she enjoyed in the exercise, she was
by these means enabled to see much more of the beautiful country in
which she lived, than she could ever have accomplished by walking;
and besides, her dear father was always by her side, to point out and
explain all the beauties of the surrounding scenery, as well as to relate
to her many of the little local stories, which abound in that part of the
country, and possess peculiar interest to the young mind. Her mother,
on her return, quite delighted, from one of these charming excursions,
took the opportunity of pointing out to her the advantages of
perseverance and self-command, and Helen promised, and indeed
firmly resolved, never again to allow herself to give way to foolish
fears; nor ever to fancy it impossible to conquer what might at first
sight appear difficult, until she had at least tried with her whole mind to
overcome the difficulty.

CHAP II.
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