Edgar was riding in the train with his mother one day. He sat next the
window, as children like to do, so that he could see all that was going
on. How the train speeds along! now passing through a tunnel, then out
again into the sunshine; next it goes over a long row of arches built
across a valley, and called a viaduct. "How high up we seem to be," said
Edgar; "see, mother, the river is down there ever so far below!" Now
they are passing through fields again, and there, looking over the
hedge, is a beautiful young horse. But as the train whirls by, the horse
runs off and scampers round and round the field. Edgar watched him as
long as he could see, and then he said: "What a lovely horse, mother!
how I should like to ride him!"
"The horse is of no use for riding yet, Edgar," said his mother.
"Why?" asked Edgar.
"Because he has not yet learnt to obey a rider," replied she; "the horse
has to wear bit and bridle before he can be of use, and to learn by them
to be controlled. A horse that could not be managed would run away with
you, just as poor Henry's temper ran away with him (Story Lesson 72)."
Bad tempers and bad habits are like wild horses: they take us where they
will, and get us into sad trouble if we do not bridle them, so we must
take care =not= to let the temper be master, but bridle it just as the
horse-trainer bridles the horse.
"I should think the horse does not like the bit and bridle at first,"
said Edgar.
"Very likely not," replied his mother; "but he would not be the useful,
patient animal that he is if he did not submit."
(Blackboard.)
Horse has to be Held in by Bit and Bridle.
We Must Bridle Temper and Bad Habit.