146 THE RING OF NATURE 



* The varmers could get nineteen and zix a bushel 

 for it, just as it might be to-day. They zaid 

 they 'd kip it till they could get a sovereign.' 



Here he pauses, and looks at the horizon as if 

 the sequel lay there. Then he strikes me con- 

 fidentially on the chest with the back of his hand 

 and impressively whispers : 



' Almighty zent the peace. Down went the 

 price o' wheat to zeven and zix. Oh,' he adds, 

 almost in tears, and throwing up his arms a 

 little, ' wasn't there a jubilee then. Didn't we 

 just shout and holler when we knew the blessed 

 pace had come.' 



There is an untaught art about the old man's 

 recital that could only be produced by having 

 lived through the terrible times of which he tells. 



