270 NATURE'S TEACHINGS. 



He very ingeniously set me to work at boring the auger-holes in 

 the gate-posts which were to be united by the mortise chisel 

 and mallet, and to sweeten the rather severe, because unaccus- 

 tomed, labour, told me that, when he was a boy, he was doing 

 just the same thing. 



Being rather tired of twisting the auger handle (and no 

 wonder either), he withdrew the instrument, and put his finger 

 into the hole by way of ascertaining its depth. Immediately 

 he found himself on his back, having received a tremendous 

 box on the ear from his father, whose parental wrath was 

 excited by the idea of his son condescending to use his finger 

 by way of measure, when he had a two-foot rule in its own 

 special pocket. 



There are, however, many cases where even a two-foot rule 

 would be insufficient for the work, and where a measure of 

 thirty or forty feet is needed. 



Now, there is no doubt that by means of a two-foot, or 

 even a six-inch, rule any number of feet might be measured 

 accurately ; but, considering the number of junctions that have 

 to be made, it is not likely that any pretence to accuracy could 

 be insured. 



Then, a rod of forty, or even of twenty, feet in length would 

 be awkward and unmanageable, and the only plan left is to 

 take a string or cord of the requisite length. 



Even here, however, is a difficulty. The string would not 

 allow of short measurements, such as inches, being written 

 upon it. Let, however, a broad tape of inelastic material be 

 substituted for the string, and all is easy enough. 



The next plan is to provide for the portability of the tape in 

 question, to insure its reduction into the smallest possible com- 

 pass, and to be sure that it is not twisted so as to damage its 

 accuracy. These objects are all attained by the ordinary Tape 

 Measure of the present day, which, whether it be a yard 

 measure in a lady's workbox, or a surveyor's measuring tape, 

 is a ribbon of comparatively inelastic material, coiled up when 

 not wanted, and capable of being drawn out to its fullest 

 extreme when needed. 



Putting aside the breadth of the line, and consequently dis- 

 regarding the liability to twist, we have in the Fishing- reel 

 of the modern angler an exact case in point. So we have in 



