2O3 



here in this vigilant solitude he may hack 

 and notch and shape to his heart's content, 

 unvexed with pestering mites of brothers, 

 sisters, who at home give him no peace. 

 Besides, he rides Here in the wagon a full 

 half-mile. An imposing chariot truly, withal 

 gaudy gaudier even than strong. Wheels, 

 and running-gear shine scarlet as sin ; the 

 lower body is green, striped red and white, 

 and topped with gay yellow side -boards 

 that double its depth. 



What rocking bliss to stand peeping 

 above them ! The vehicle has never a 

 spring. With the team at the trot, what 

 shaking of passengers what bouncing, 

 bumping, of whosoever dares sit. The 

 proper thing is to ride standing feet wide 

 and hard-set upon the buffeting foundation. 

 If you can but compass it, you may go with- 

 out turning a hair, though the mules race^ 

 uphill, down dale, across cloddy levels. Six 

 of the good creatures gayly pranked out, 

 with bright chains all aclank, with harness 

 supple and well-oiled. Evidently Jim, the 

 wagoner, loves his team next himself bet- 

 ter in some points it may be. Every head- 

 stall has a wrapping of the gayest scarlet, 

 the big, black wheelers flaunt, each at his 

 ear, a silver-white ox-tail. The clean-limbed 



