THE IRRIGATIOX AGE. 319 



were V-notches cut into the elges of the log's, whiuh. when one WAS 

 placed on top of the other, formed square holes angle- ways. A hinere 

 at one end and clasp and staple-eye padlock at the oth^r. formed the 

 fixing. 



Mr. Clifton said. "My sturdy ancestor, Harold Clifton, has left 

 his mark of irony well secured to one of the stock-holes,"' and he re- 

 moved a strip of silk, which appeared, by the color, to be part of 

 some old banner and revealed in the hole a oadge of ''The Mast Xoble 

 Order of the Garter" fixed there, with a rusty nail driven through it, 

 and a strip of parchment as well. 



Alton read the doggerel verse written on the parchment in bold 

 lettering: 



For the poor are those stocks, to jam laborers' legs 

 For the rich is a garter for which each lies and begs. 

 Tho' the poor make men rich, who prey on their toil. 

 The rich in return claim rent, tax and spoil. 



H. C. 

 Mr. Clifton said: '-The yeoman breed of 'Ironsides,' of the type 



of my ancestor, is dying out fast. The flunky spirits of the age finds 

 its second hand braggadocio in the press, and fancies itself brave at 

 reading the bunkum." 



"Heigh-ho!" sighed Mrs. May thorn. "How this world .seems 

 .ruled by gnats and moths." 



In the kitchen was an old order of the bath badge. That reminded 

 her of washing her aftermaths as the recipients of the bath Knight- 

 hood formerly were required to have a wash before entering the kingly 

 presence to be badged and dubbed a knight. 



What an unwashed tops'ey-turvey world this is! 



Alton now examined the relics. Looking closely at the linking of 

 the rings of chain-mail, he saw that every alternate ring was riveted 

 with a needle-point rivet. 



The antique saddle with high pommel and cantle had the stirrup- 

 leathers hung on the oak bars of trees; which were slightly recessed 

 where the stirrup-leathers had worn them by constant use. The re- 

 cess was four inches further back than m the modern saddle-bars, 

 fixed partly on the pommel-point. 



"As if the rivetter-up of tree-bars made his piece work fixing 

 dominate over the rider's comfort and safety," was Mr. Clifton's com- 

 ment on modern riding saddle bar fixings; "quite away from the 

 rider's equipose of seat on the saddle, which should have the foot- 

 pressure on stirrup, fairly under the rider's weight." 



The smith}' door was unfastened. They entered. 



"Here!" said Alton, "is my ideal state room of noblest chivalry 

 the workshop of productive toil for other's aid and service. " 



Alton recalled the yester-evening joyous scene, saying to Mr, 

 Clifton and niece. 



"How unconscious are most people of the joy they unthinkingly 



