Making Even 153 



must go to his master, and ask for a sack of wheat, or 

 a cheese, or a cask of butter at farm rates : the cost to 

 be deducted from his wages ; whence the old pay-day 

 struggle about making even. Any system of allot- 

 ments that would do away with this were a boon 

 indeed, but it is becoming more and more apparent 

 that Tummus cannot and will not give his scanty 

 leisure to the toil of cultivating anything larger than 

 a moderate-sized garden. Farmers, on the other hand, 

 are very willing to forego the regular engagement 

 system, and to take their men on piece-work. Such 

 labourers as believe they can make land pay should 

 be perfectly content with the terms : whenever they 

 may rent an acre of their own, and eke out their wages 

 with the yield. In theory it is perfect, is it not ? But 

 at the critical moment the farmer needs his Tummus, 

 and his Tummus wants to be on his own allotment. 



If Tummus only knew it, or rather if Tummus 

 would forego his wretched yet to him most costly 

 diversions he would profit best by engaging himself 

 for six months or a year, at moderate wages in money 

 and a share in the crops. That would rid him of the 

 poignant affliction of being sent home on rainy days 

 and left with no work and no wages in midwinter ; 

 and it would protect him from that trick of making 

 even so long a scandal in the land. 



