CHAP. VII.] POTATOES. 289 



Before her potatoes come to the table, they are, 

 even in bulk, less than 5 Ibs. or even 3 Ibs. of flour 

 made into a pudding. Try the experiment 

 yourself Sir, and you will soon be able to ap 

 preciate the economy of this dame. 



276. But, to return to Dick and John ; the 

 former has got his five bushels of potatoes, and 

 the latter his bushel of flour. I shall, by and by, 

 have to observe upon the stock that Dick must 

 lay in, and upon the stowage that he must have 

 but, at present, we will trace these two com 

 modities in their way to the mouth and in their 

 effects upon those who eat them. Dick has 

 got five bushels at once, because he could have 1 

 them a little cheaper. John may have his Peck 

 or Gallon of flour: for that has a fixed and in- 

 discriminating price. It requires no trick in 

 dealing, no judgment, as in the case of the 

 roots, which may be wet, or hollow, or hot; 

 flour may be sent for by any child able to carry 

 the quantity wanted. However, reckoning Dick's 

 trouble and time nothing in getting home his 

 five bushels of potatoes, and supposing him. to, 

 have got the right sort, a "fine sort," which he . 

 can hardly fail of, indeed, since the whole nation 

 is now full of " fine sort," let us now see how 

 he goes to work to consume them. He has a 

 piece of bacon upon the rack, but he rauat . 

 have some potatoes too. On goes the pot, but 



Y 2 



