He could see the horse standing by the side of the road at some distance, quietly eating the grass.

A little this side of the place where the horse stood, the bags were lying upon the ground, not very far from each other.
The story which Jemmy told was not strictly true.

He was one of the boys of the village, and was of a wild and reckless character.

This was, however, partly his father's fault, who never gave him any kind and friendly instruction, and always treated him with a great degree of sternness and severity.
A circus company had visited Franconia a few weeks before the time of this accident, and Jemmy had peeped through the cracks of the fence that formed their enclosure, and had seen the performers ride around the ring, standing upon the backs of the horses.

He was immediately inspired with the ambition to imitate this feat, and the next time that he mounted his father's horse, he made the attempt to perform it.
His father, when he found it out, was very angry with him, and sternly forbade him ever to do such a thing again.