CHAPTER VIII.
_How to ride without a Bridle._
"Doctor, what am I to do?" said Mr. Broadcloth, the wealthy tailor ofBond-street. "Here am I, just fifty years of age, now in the prime oflife, and cannot enjoy a moment's content. I have forty-nine hands atwork for me, in my shop every day, beside piece-work out-doors. I havesix runners of errands; four porters, to carry out my goods, and tobring me home work. Beside all this, I have such incessant customers tobe measured, and coats to make, that from morning to night I hearnothing but snip go, snip go, snip go! and although I work like ajourneyman, I half wish I was one of my own porters, and could go fromhouse to house for fresh air and exercise."
"Oh, my dear sir!" said the Doctor, "you must ride on horseback,--youmust indeed! you must be a journey-man yourself,--carry out yourclothes to Clapham, and find yourself all the better in health andspirits."
"Doctor, I have heard that all who can do as you bid them, are sure torecover."
"The first of all blessings is health,--for without it Men may think there's enjoyment in life,--but I doubt it."
"Then recover yourself, and you will own my advice to be good."
"What shall I do for a horse?"
"Do as everybody else does,--go to John Tattsall's, and get the horsethat will suit you. I shall be glad to see you on one."
The tailor was soon mounted;--but it is one thing to bemounted,--another to be seated.
He soon complained to Mr. Tattsall, that the horse he had bought of himwould not mind the bridle.
"Then," says John, "ride him without one. In fact, your horse did belongto a lame letter-carrier, and he never rode him with a bridle. You mayhave one round his neck by way of a check rein; but this horse, you willfind, will never deceive you.
"You have nothing to do but to mount, and say, 'Go on:' he will be offin a gentle canter along the gutter, keeping close to the pavement,avoiding the lamp posts, oyster stalls, orange tables, trucks, andbarrows; and whenever you say 'Wo-ho,' he will make a dead stop. You mayget off, and wait an hour, if you like, he will never stir, but willknow how to take care of himself; only give him a bit of carrot or anapple, just to let him know you are his master, as the poor old lameduck did,--and you may mount and say 'Go on,' and 'Wo-ho,' twenty timesin a day,--and he will obey you. You will not need a bridle or a rein."
Mr. Broadcloth did so,--and never complained of his horse after,--andquite recovered of his complaint.
Go on!--wo-ho! Good words will all command, And gentle treatment bring the steed to hand.