{"product_id":"2940149574704","title":"Harper's Young People, March 15, 1881","description":"When Toby got within sight of the ring, he was astonished at what he saw. A horse with a broad wooden saddle was being led slowly around the ring; Mr. Castle was standing on one side, with a long whip in his hand, and on the tent pole, which stood in the centre of the ring, was a long[Pg 306] arm, from which dangled a leathern belt on a long rope that was carried through the end of the arm, and run down to the base of the pole.\u003cbr\u003eToby knew well enough why the horse, the whip, and the man were there, but this wooden projection from the tent pole, which looked so much like a gallows, he could not understand at all.\u003cbr\u003e\"Come, now,\" said Mr. Castle, cracking his whip ominously as Toby came in sight, \"why weren't you here before?\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Mr. Lord just sent me in,\" said Toby, not expecting that his excuse would be received, for they never had been since he had arrived at the height of his ambition by joining the circus.\u003cbr\u003e\"Then I'll make Mr. Job understand that I am to have my full hour of your time, and if I don't get it, there'll be trouble between us.\"\u003cbr\u003eIt would have pleased Toby very well to have had Mr. Castle go out with his long whip just then and make trouble for Mr. Lord; but Mr. Castle had not the time to spare, because of the trouble which he was about to make for Toby, and that he commenced on at once.\u003cbr\u003e\"Well, get in here, and don't waste any more time,\" he said, sharply.\u003cbr\u003eToby looked around curiously for a moment, and not understanding exactly what he was expected to get in and do, asked, \"What shall I do?\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Pull off your boots, coat, and vest.\"\u003cbr\u003eSince there was no other course than to learn to ride, Toby wisely concluded that the best thing he could do would be to obey this new master without question; and he began to take his clothes off with as much alacrity as if learning to ride was the one thing upon which he had long set his heart.\u003cbr\u003eMr. Castle was evidently accustomed to prompt obedience, for he not only took it as a matter of course, but endeavored to hurry Toby in his work of undressing.\u003cbr\u003eWith his desire to please, and urged by Mr. Castle's words and the ominous shaking of his whip, Toby's preparations were soon made, and he stood before his instructor clad only in his shirt, trousers, and stockings.\u003cbr\u003eThe horse was led around to where he stood, and when Mr. Castle held out his hand to help him to mount, Toby jumped up quickly without aid, thereby making a good impression at the start as a willing lad.\u003cbr\u003e\"Now,\" said the instructor, as he pulled down the leathern belt which hung from the rope, and fastened it around Toby's waist, \"stand up in the saddle, and try to stand there. You can't fall, because the rope will keep you up, even if the horse goes out from under you; but it isn't hard work to keep on if you mind what you are about, and if you don't, this whip will help you. Now stand up.\"\u003cbr\u003eToby did as he was bidden, and as the horse was led at a walk, and as he had the long bridle to aid him in keeping his footing, he had no difficulty in standing during the time that the horse went once around the ring; but that was all.\u003cbr\u003eMr. Castle seemed to think that this was preparation enough for the boy to be able to understand how to ride, and he started the horse into a canter. As might have been expected, Toby lost his balance, the horse went on ahead, and he was left dangling at the end of the rope, very much like a crab that has just been caught by the means of a pole and line.\u003cbr\u003eToby kicked, waved his hands, and floundered about generally, but all to no purpose, until the horse came round again, and then he made frantic efforts to regain his footing, which efforts were aided—or perhaps it would be more proper to say retarded—by the long lash of Mr. Castle's whip, that played around his legs with merciless severity.\u003cbr\u003e\"Stand up! stand up!\" cried his instructor, as Toby reeled first to one side and then to the other, now standing erect in the saddle, and now dangling at the end of the rope, with the horse almost out from under him.\u003cbr\u003eThis command seemed almost needless, as it was exactly what Toby was trying to do; but as it was given, he struggled all the harder, until it seemed to him that the more he tried, the less did he succeed.\u003cbr\u003eAnd this first lesson progressed in about the same way until the hour was over, save that now and then Mr. Castle would give him some good advice, but oftener he would twist the long lash of that whip around the boy's legs with such force that Toby believed the skin had been taken entirely off.\u003cbr\u003eIt may have been a relief to Mr. Castle when that first lesson was concluded, and it certainly was to Toby, for he had had all the teaching in horsemanship that he wanted, and he thought, with deepest sorrow, that this would be of daily occurrence during all the time he remained with the circus.\u003cbr\u003eAs he went out of the tent he stopped to speak with his friend the old monkey,","brand":"Lost Leaf Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47072957202672,"sku":"2940149574704","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940149574704_p0.jpg?v=1763720390","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940149574704","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}