CHAPTER IV.

"The houss and pillion both were gone;
Phyllis, it seems was fled with John"

The consideration of horses, those valuable adjuncts to our goings and comings, naturally leads us to that of the mode of transit from place to place, the peculiar forms of locomotion as enjoyed by our forefathers on the one hand and ourselves on the other.

Chariots we read of in the very ancient writings, therefore wheeled vehicles there must have been in those days, but we will not go back even so far to find a starting point sufficient for our purpose.

In the narrow lanes, the bridle paths though highways repairable by the inhabitants at large, we find in the present day in country districts, traces of those old fashioned means of communication between village and village when common carts on wheels were unknown or unused, and along which there was but room for a horse to travel and pass another horse engaged on a similar errand-and here and there we discover those large square weather beaten horse-blocks of stone from the top of which approached by a step or two, the horseman or horsewoman or both as the case might be, mounted into the saddle.

The old 'pillion,' a convenient and under ordinary circumstances by no means uncomfortable construction, consisted of a saddle which extending well on to the croupe, not only allowed of the accommodation

necessary for the gentleman in front, but also for his wife or may be his betrothed behind him-he of course sitting as Tom Bowline would say, with his 'face to the bows' and the lady sideways, the positions of the two being highly favourable over shoulder, to the salute which in those days as compared with the strait laced or more correctly perhaps quasi strait laced sailing orders of the present, was an honest greeting of a warm heart, a not uncustomary proceeding by the way on other occasions, for even on leaving the hostelry of the Cat and Fiddle Sir Walter Scott tells us 'whilst the landlord proffered a stirrup cup to the elder guests, the landlady offered Peveril of the Peak, a glass from her own peculiar bottle, and for this purpose mounted on the horse-block with flask and glass in hand; so that it was easy for the departing guest although on horseback, to return the courtesy in the most approved manner, namely by throwing his arm over his landlady's shoulder and saluting her at parting.'

We are here reminded of an anecdote which had a real existence in a country place we well know, and we make bold to say many of our readers also well know. A reverend rector of a rural parish resting considerably above the level of the proximate sea, owned a stout grey mare, a steady going jog, jog, faithful animal. But stay, before we had mentioned the grey mare, we should have recorded the fact that the reverend gentleman, himself three score years and ten possessed an aged spouse who delighted in the name of 'Judith.'

In another parish, in another rectory some three miles away there lived another aged clerk in holiness, whose residence unlike that of the former was situate down on the low level of the sea, so low indeed that the tide sometimes invaded the clerical domain.

On the occasion we refer to, the sociability of the low churchman, that is to say, of the seaward rector, given to hospitality like his bishop, had led him to send a special notification to his co-apostle requesting him and his aged partner, which of course involved to some extent the auxiliary presence of the grey mare, to dine with him-the hospitality of the former developing itself in the shape of a good substantial beef and plum-pudding kind of dinner, followed as in those days was the custom by the usual post prandial quantum of old port.

We do not for a moment desire it to be inferred that more than a proper or suitable measure either of the substantial fare, the old brown ale, or even the port was partaken of, yet, doubtless the soothing result of the meeting of old and tried friends in view of such things, was that which we all more or less may have felt on similar occasions.

It was winter, and the days had sometime since closed in, indeed, it had become dark on this particular evening, and it bethought our old friend of the upper level, the high churchman shall we say, and his better half, that "Greybut" the old mare known by this appellation, should be ordered

to be caparisoned and got ready for the homeward journey. Accordingly and in due time, the fuss and fidget of mounting into the pillion were gone through, and both guests left the warm and comfortable quarters of their reverend entertainer.

It happened unfortunately that it was an exceptionally windy night, and the approach of the coming storm was betokened by many appearances in the darkening sky.

Jog, jog, jog however the old people proceeded until they came to a sharp ascent, a hill, though a short one, which resembled rather the side of a house than a road-a highway to all intents and purposes, and here the poor helpmete of the reverend rector came to grief;-the retaining edge of the after part of the pillion was insufficient to sustain the over incumbent pressure of the downward tendency and she succumbed, gliding gracefully no doubt over the tail of the devoted Greybut, but reaching terra firma with an ungracious thud. The old mare probably finding herself relieved by the weight abstracted, stepped briskly on, and midst the howling of the wind through the trees, and perhaps the somewhat increased difficulties incidental to the uprising saddle in front and the enhanced adhesion necessary, the reverend gentleman naturally deaf, his thoughts may-be reverting to the roast beef and other good things, or cogitating on the next sunday's discourse, or indeed dozing serenely on the back of his faithful Rozinante, trudged along unaware of the cries behind him, and absolutely innocent of the

loss of cargo-on he went jog, jog, jog till arriving at the entrance gate of his own rectory, it became as he well knew his wife's custom to open it.- 'Judy' he said, 'Judy;'-'Judy my dear,' but no answer came, no Judy was there-some two miles behind she had been detached, and had now to walk home as best she could, though the rectory lantern 'tis said met her half-way.

This then is a sample of travelling in old days, a mode which however comfortable or convenient under ordinary circumstances, you will say was capable of improvement in face of exceptional emergencies!