An Old Coaching Day's Idyll or—A Trooper's Tragedy.
The same beginning for either:
Child learning to ride on
hobby-horse
rocking-horse
donkey
pony
etc. etc.
Then (if coaching) an old haunted-looking posting-house on a coaching road (Hog's Back!)—a highwayman—a broken-down postilion—a girl on a pillion, etc., etc.
Or, if military:
A yokel watching a cavalry regiment in Autumn Manoeuvres over a bridge.
A Horse and Trooper—Riding for life (here or Hereafter!) with another man across his saddle.
Of course it may only hamper him to have hints (I've not heard yet), but I hope anyhow he'll do something for me.
August 9, 1879.