DOGS AND HORSES 275 



This was a new idea to me, and I looked into 

 it with some interest. I knew that Jane was 

 deft with her fingers, but I did not know that 

 she had a special wish to cultivate this deftness 

 or to put it to practical use. 



" What can you do with a forge ? " said I. 

 " You can't shoe the horses or sharpen the 

 ploughs. Can .you make nails? They are 

 machine-made now, and you couldn't earn ten 

 cents a week, even at horse-shoe nails." 



" I don't want to make nails, Dad ; I want to 

 work in copper and brass, and iron, too, but in 

 girl fashion. Mary Town has a forge in Hart- 

 ford, and I spent lots of Saturdays with her. 

 She says that I am cleverer than she is, but of 

 course she was jollying me, for she makes beauti- 

 ful things ; but I can learn, and it's great fun." 



"What kind of things does this young lady 

 make, dear?" 



"Lamp-shades, paper-knives, hinges, bag-tops, 

 buckles, and lots of things. She could sell them, 

 too, if she had to. It's like learning a trade, 

 Dad." 



" All right, child, you shall have a forge, if 

 you will agree not to burn yourself up. Do 

 you roll up your sleeves and wear a leather 

 apron ? " 



" Why, of course, just like a blacksmith ; only 

 mine will be of soft brown leather and pinked 

 at the edges." 



So Jane was to have her forge. We selected 



