the winter." Helen said she was very glad that Marion was not to be sent
to the hills; and Mr. Martin added, if Mr. Scott considered Marion able to
undertake the walk to his house, he would lend her some improving books to
read. For though Mr. Scott was competent to instruct his daughter in
common reading, writing, and arithmetic, which sort of knowledge all
gardeners in that country acquire while young, his collection of books was
not altogether calculated to improve a child's taste or understanding.

Meanwhile, Mr. Scott had walked nearly a mile without seeing any thing of
John. At last, on turning a corner of the road, he perceived him at a
distance, not mounted in triumph as he had set off on his excursion, but
walking slowly, and leading Bob, who did not seem at all inclined to
quicken his pace. As soon as he thought he could be heard, he called to
John to know what was the matter. John did not answer very readily, but
waited till he had got quite close to Mr. Scott before he said a word.
Then dropping his head, and looking very confused, he gave the following
account of himself. He said that Bob trotted nicely about half a mile,
after which he could not get him to go a pace faster than a walk; he tried
all he could do to make him move, but Bob was so obstinate, that he became
afraid of keeping Mr. Martin waiting. He then wished for a spur, and after
thinking and thinking, he recollected having some large pins stuck in the
sleeve of his coat. He thought they would do, could he contrive to fix
them on his feet, but how to do this he did not very well know, as he had
no shoes to fasten them to; at last he thought he would try to fix them on
with a piece of twine which he had in his pocket, and after many attempts,
succeeded so far as to drive one of his pins into poor Bob's side, who by
no means relishing this method of coercion, set off instantly at a hand
gallop. John courageously kept his seat, holding fast, first by the
bridle, but, as the velocity of the motion increased, at last by the mane;
when perceiving a good wide ditch cut in the road, he flattered himself