FROM A NEW ENGLAND HILLSIDE. 183 



a rickety wheelbarrow. How astonishingly 

 a wheelbarrow wobbles when you have a 

 somewhat heavier load on board than you 

 are quite equal to ! It really is the tipsiest 

 sort of a conveyance, and you feel yourself 

 a kindred spirit. But I succeeded in com 

 pleting the journey with all but the heavi 

 est, and for the raising and transfer of this 

 I was compelled to call for assistance. And 

 then came the placing, in which I became a 

 free and accepted inason, pushing with my 

 little might to swing the boom of the derrick 

 into place, and handling the crowbar in the 

 adjustment upon the corner. It is true that 

 I had the assistance of the professionals, or 

 rather, assisted them, which being inter 

 preted means that they probably wished me 

 in Ballyhack, wherever that may be. How 

 ever, they were very amiable, and let me 

 have my way, and I am sure that the house 

 will be a better house for me because I 

 have had a hand in its construction. 



The trap-rock of which I am building 

 will stand any amount of pressure when 

 well placed, but it is very brittle when 

 struck, and sometimes breaks anywhere 

 but where one desires, and Hies into a 

 dozen pieces. Therefore we have, so far 

 as possible, to secure such masses as will 



