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