I used to run with them, and had great fun; we used to gallop all together round the field, as hard as we could go.

Sometimes we had rather rough play, for they would bite and kick, as well as gallop.
[Illustration] One day, when there was a good deal of kicking, my mother whinnied to me to come to her, and then she said: "I wish you to pay attention to what I am going to say.

The colts who live here are very good colts, but they are cart-horse colts, and they have not learned manners.

You have been well-bred and well-born; your father has a great name in these parts, and your grandfather won the cup at the races; your grandmother had the sweetest temper of any horse I ever knew, and I think you have never seen me kick or bite.

I hope you will grow up gentle and good, and never learn bad ways; do your work with a good will, lift your feet up well when you trot, and never bite or kick even in play." [Illustration] I have never forgotten my mother's advice.