It was a small town , but through the summer many city people visited there , so I was kept on the trot while the season lasted , because ladies could drive me . You , Miss Belinda , were one of the ladies , and I never shall forget , though I have long ago forgiven it , how you laughed at my queer gait the day you hired me . '' ` My tender feet and stiff knees made me tread very gingerly , and amble along with short mincing steps , which contrasted oddly , I know , with my proudly waving tail and high-carried head . You liked me nevertheless , because I did n't rattle you down the steep hills , was not afraid of locomotives , and stood patiently while you gathered flowers and enjoyed the lovely prospects . '' ' I have always felt a regard for you since you did not whip me , and admired my eyes , which , I may say without vanity , have always been considered unusually fine . But no one ever won my whole heart like Miss Merry , and I never shall forget the happy day when she came to the stable to order a saddle-horse . Her cheery voice made me prick up my ears , and when she said , after looking at several showy beasts , `` No , they do n't suit me . This one now has the right air ; can I ride her ? '' my heart danced within me and I looked round with a whinny of delight . She understood my welcome , and came right up to me , patted me , peered into my face , rubbed my nose , and looked at my feet with an air of interest and sympathy , that made me feel as if I 'd like to carry her round the world . '' ` Ah , what rides we had after that ! What happy hours trotting gayly through the green woods , galloping over the breezy hills , or pacing slowly along quiet lanes , where I often lunched luxuriously on clover-tops , while Miss Merry took a sketch of some picturesque bit with me in the foreground . '' ' I liked that , and we had long chats at such times , for she seemed to understand me perfectly . She was never frightened when I danced for pleasure on the soft turf , never chid me when I snatched a bite from the young trees as we passed through sylvan ways , never thought it a trouble to let me wet my tired feet in babbling brooks , or to dismount and take out the stones that plagued me . '' ` Then how well she rode ! So firm yet light a seat , so steady a hand , so agile a foot to spring on and off , and such infectious spirits , that no matter how despondent or cross I might be , in five minutes I felt gay and young again when dear Miss Merry was on my back . ' `` Here Rosa gave a frisk that sent the straw flying , and made me shrink into a corner , while she pranced about the box with a neigh which waked the big brown colt next door , and set poor Buttercup to lowing for her calf , the loss of which she had forgotten for a little while in sleep . '' ` Ah , Miss Merry never ran away from me ! She knew my heels were to be trusted , and she let me caper as I would , glad to see me lively . Never mind , Miss Belinda , come out and I 'll be sober , as befits my years , ' laughed Rosa , composing herself , and adding , so like a woman that I could not help smiling in the dark , -- '' ` When I say `` years '' I beg you to understand that I am not as old as that base man declared , but just in the prime of life for a horse .
Hard usage has made me seem old before my time , and I am good for XXXXX of service yet . ' ''
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