38 FARM ECHOES. 



not choose their position, nor change it if wrong, and 

 would inevitably be dashed to pieces. 



So I felt, on entering upon the new and untried work 

 of clearing land, etc., I must get started right. It would 

 never do to make a wrong beginning. Everything de- 

 pended upon my being thoroughly posted at the outset. 

 This I fully resolved should be the case, nor was it long 

 before I realized that I had accomplished this, and a little 

 more. There was an ugly old hitching post right in the 

 way where I wished to make a carriage drive. Out it 

 must come, happen what would, though I had no idea 

 that anything of that kind was going to happen, until 

 all was over, and I too. Indeed, I did not, for a few 

 moments after, know exactly what had occurred. I was 

 no sooner conscious that I was heels and post overhead, 

 than I "righted" myself, and made a careful survey all 

 around, to see if there were any lookers-on. It was a 

 comfort to know that there were none, The secret was 

 wholly with myself, externally, and, I may add, internally, 

 for my bones ached some. There certainly was a "hitch" 

 in that post that I was not prepared for. I had taken 

 my tirst lesson, and proved myself equal to getting out 

 old hitching posts. I had also learned some of the ups 

 and downs of country life, and when the back of my head 

 came too suddenly in contact with the ground, I saw stars 

 that I am sure were not members of my family. 



It afforded no little amusement to many of the old 

 farmers to see the way in which I began to clear land. 

 I frankly acknowledge I was, at times, wholly at a loss 

 how to proceed. I was as much "at sea" as though I 

 had been in mid ocean. 



