LTO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.']
SIR,—I remember one dark night some years ago I was returning home from a meeting at Stonesfield, Oxon. Driving down the rather steep road from the village, I was surprised to find my horse pulling stubbornly to the side of the road— almost overturning the conveyance by getting on to the high bank—and refusing to answer the rein. At the same time I could hear the rattle of a somewhat heavy vehicle coming down the opposite hill. Presently it rushed past me at a rapid rate, and then my horse resumed his journey in the ordinary way. I had not proceeded far when I met a man running at full speed, whip in hand, who accosted me with :— "Hi! Guv'nor, have you seen anything of erra a horse and van run down this way ? I just turned into a public-'ouse to 'ave me a drop o' summat to drink, and when I got oat again my 'orse and van had run away !" I told him they had just passed me a few minutes ago; but I was sorry to hear, some time afterwards, that it was many hours before he succeeded in overtaking them. Query : was it reason, or instinct, or a "special providence," that led my horse to behave as it did at that critical and perilous moment F—I am, Sir, &c.,
Hadley Green, Barnet, Herts. THOMAS EVANS.
Previous page
