"To Exeter, father!" said Daniel.

"Yes, to Exeter. I am going to put you in the academy there."

The academy at Exeter was a famous school for preparing boys for
college. It is still a famous school. But Daniel's father did not say
anything about college.

There were no railroads at that time, and Exeter was nearly fifty miles
away. Daniel and his father would ride there on horseback.

Early in the morning two horses were brought to the door. One was Mr.
Webster's horse; the other was an old gray nag with a lady's sidesaddle
on its back.

"Who is going to ride that nag?" asked Daniel.

"Young Dan Webster," answered his father.

"But I don't want a sidesaddle. I'm not a lady."

"I understand," said Mr. Webster. "But our neighbor, Johnson, is
sending the nag to Exeter for the use of a lady who is to ride back
with me. He does me a favor by allowing you to ride on the animal, and
I do him a favor by taking care of it."

"But won't it look rather funny for me to ride to Exeter on a
sidesaddle?"