Uncle David did not have hay fever while we were in Colorado. Hearty meals and bracing mountain air built all of us up. Only one thing happened to me that I regretted for many years. On a day when my cousins and their friend were out playing golf, Uncle David was busy writing a medical paper so I did not tell him I was going for a ride. I asked one of the stable men to get me a pony that was a good jumper. I had had some experience in jumping. Off I went alone up the mountain where several trees had been cut or had blown down. Each time I came to one that I wanted to jump I raised my rein, touched the responsive pony with a spur, and said, "Over." She would make a perfect jump that we both enjoyed. Then we reached a large log that hid a branch that lay close to the ground. When I tried to get the pony over this she saw the branch and to avoid it turned to the side. I went over her head with the reins. The pony stopped still. My head struck a rock that cut my forehead under my hair. I sprained a thumb and must have fainted or blacked out. When I came to the faithful pony was tugging at my belt trying to arouse me. This training of ponies to stop when the rein is thrown over their heads has probably saved lives. I sat on a log and gave thanks and prayed that I could get back to the lodge safely. I told the pony to go to the lodge and she made a beeline for it. I turned her in and went quickly to clean up and dress for lunch. Uncle David noticed I was very quiet. Taking me aside after lunch he asked me what had happened. I told him the whole story. He scolded me thoroughly and forbade me to go anywhere by myself as long as we were there.

This fall from the pony probably added to the trouble I had with my internal organs. We were all in good health after the month in Colorado. Going through the mountains on the train we passed places where there were black shiny spots. Maude asked me what these glassy stone places were. I said, "I think it is obsidian." Maude said, "Lucy, you always have an answer. How do you know it is obsidian?" My retort was, "I said 'I think' and did not make a positive statement." She resented my fund of general information that I had gained during walks and talks with my father and while traveling. The large Gamble family were my best-loved relatives but they never attained the ease. that prevailed among their Matthews kin.