The boy's countrybook Author:William Howitt Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAP.II. IN WHICH THE SCENE CHANGES, AND PETER SCROGGINS, THE PONY, MAKES HIS APPEARANCE. To go to the collieries I had a little grey pony, called Pet... more »er Scroggins, which, if my memory is to be believed, was one of the most compact, active, handsome, clever, and yet good-tempered and gentle creatures that ever lived. Where he sprung from I cannot tell; I only remember that, to my great joy, my father took me and showed him to me in the stable, and said, "There, my boy, what do you think ot that for a nag ? Come, mount him, and let us see how you can manage him." Whereupon he forthwith took down from the wall a span-new little saddle, which I had been as little aware of as of thepony itself, and placing it himself on the little horse's back, he buckled up the pair of nice new white girths, and then took down as beautiful a new bridle, and having put it on, led Peter to the door, and bade me mount,— which I need not say I did in quick time. Here some cautious people will say, " But could you ride?" That will presently be seen; for without further ceremony, clapping my heels to his sides, and giving Peter a gentle cut with a new whip which I found as marvellously in my hand, up the village street we went at a brave rate, amid the wonder of many a simple neighbour. Having gone, as it were on swallow's wings, about a mile and back again, I found my father and mother, and old Samuel Davis the groom, who had lived in the house as long as I knew any thing of it, and a dozen other of the villagers standing together, who had a score of wonders and notes of admiration to make; while my father said, " Here, Will, you may dismount again now. I see you and Peter will agree very well together: so give him to Samuel Davis till you want him." And pretty often you may believe I did ...« less