All Hobbits, Big Folk, Elves, and Dwarves welcome!
Winding downWell, didn't think it would be this long, but Mum came down ill before Oi could write what all 'appened that first ridin' lesson, an' we 'ad our 'ands full takin' care o' 'er an' keepin' up wi' all the 'elp from our friends an' neighbors an' relatives.
Now, that first lesson went quite well, if Oi do say so, myself. It were the next day (before Miss Bennie arrived) that Mum decided that she would 'ave Gingersnap groomed an' ready fer the ridin' lesson. Marigold 'elped 'er fasten the harness and reins on Gingersnap. Oi helped wi' th' saddle, showin' Mum 'ow ter make sure Gingersnap wasn't 'oldin' 'er breath when tightenin' th' girth.
That done, Mum insisted on gettin' on 'er pony an' had me lead them out ter th' paddock. Mari an' Oi watched as Mum insisted on puttin' Gingersnap through 'er paces while waitin' fer Miss Bennie.
Mum was doin' fine wi' me in the paddock wi' 'er, keepin' an eye on Gingersnap, so Mari retired ter the 'ole ter start boilin' water fer ter wash clothes. The Gaffer was workin' on a new batch o' 'ome brew, an Miss Bennie 'adn't arrived yet, so it were only me when things 'took off,' literally.
Oi turned my 'ead towards town, an' saw Miss Bennie ('oo was still a bit away) ridin' up the Hill on 'er pony, towards Bagshot Row. Mum was just ridin' past me in th' paddock when Oi 'eard a 'zingin' noise go past my 'ead and all 'ell broke loose!
Gingersnap squealled an' then began ter kick, 'er back legs an' 'ooves aimed at my 'ead. Oi managed ter duck the 'ooves, but Mum was startled and dropped th' reins.
Before Oi could grab the reins, Gingersnap began runnin' and she jumped th' paddock fence wi' Mum clingin' ter 'er mane. That's when Oi caught sound of somethin' in th' big tree by th' paddock. Oi caught sight o' three young lads tryin' their best ter 'ide in th' branches an' leaves. My main thoughts were ter save my Mum, but Oi made a mental note ter take care o' them lads later.
Natur'lly, Oi began runnin' after Gingersnap, all th' while yellin' fer my Gaffer ter 'elp me catch th' pony an' save Mum. Miss Bennie, the moment she arrived, saw Gingersnap kickin'an' knew somethin' was wrong. When Gingersnap jumped th' fence, Miss Bennie urged 'er own pony ter chase after.
They raced up th' side o' th' Hill, an' Oi was certain Mum and Gingersnap would be found in Over'ill 'fore we would catch that there pony! But Miss Bennie --'oo is a very good rider fer a female-- caught up wi' them close ter th' Party Tree. She managed ter grab th' reins an' as she slowed 'er own mount, made Gingersnap do th' same.
By th' time th' Gaffer an' me caught up ter them, Mum was sittin' on th' grass, pretty shook up. Bennie was checkin' over Gingersnap ter see if there was anything that would explain the pony's sudden change in dis-poe-si-shun an' she gestured fer me to join 'er.
"Sam," she asked in 'er no-nonsense manner as she pointed out a welt on Gingersnap's hindquarters. "Did you notice anything that would have caused this?"
That's when Oi tol' 'er 'bout th' zingin' noise an' spottin' lads hidin' in th' tree. Miss Bennie's eye's narrowed as she looked back towards th' tree.
"Pardon me," she said as she mounted 'er pony. "I need to take care of something quickly."
Off she an' 'er pony went like an arrow from a bow t'wards th' tree, where Oi could see th' lads climbin' down an' takin' off pell-mell across th' fields ter their own 'oles.
Th' Gaffer an' I calmed Mum and convinced 'er ter get back in th' saddle--as it were the fastest way ter get 'em back 'ome--wi' th' promise we would keep 'old o' th' reins an' lead them back 'ome.
Now that we made it 'ome, Oi kin tell ye that Miss Bennie rounded them lads up and made them return ter our 'ole, where she made 'em say they were sorry fer usin' a slingshot on Gingersnap.
What my Gaffer did ter them is what any neighbor 'round 'ere would do: 'e gave them all a good thrashin' and walked 'em all 'ome where their parents learned what 'ad 'appened.
It was then arranged that them very same lads would be 'volunteerin' their time ter muck out all of our pony and cow stalls mornin' an' evenin' (on top o' their own 'ome chores) fer th' next month as reck-um-pence.
Miss Bennie took Gingersnap back ter 'er place ter train a bit more. She even suggested that Mum think 'bout usin' Gingersnap more as a cart pony instead o' fer ridin'.
Oi'm not sure iffen th' fright o' this all caused Mum ter take ill, but she took ter 'er bed fer a week not long after. She's only just begun ter do things 'round the 'ole an' even ventured out t'day wi' Mari ter town fer market.
Oi end this 'ere entry wi' a sigh. Oi sure do 'ope Mum will think 'bout Miss Bennie's suggestion an' let 'er train Gingersnap ter pull a cart.
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