COMBINATION AND COMMINUTION. 53 



did not even stay to particularize what crop he 

 alluded to as wishing me to get, or how much 

 per acre. But of course I civillj "wished him the 

 same" gently shutting one eye, as I saw it was the 

 fashion, and had such a pleasing effect ; at which, 

 being an old friend, he performed the ceremony of 

 inserting his second finger between the fourth and 

 fifth rib of my left side, and informed me, with a 

 smile, that "he saw I understood chaff," to which, 

 innocently replying in the affirmative, I added, 

 for reason, that I had a great demand for it of 

 late among my friends, and found it an useful 

 commodity in agriculture. Such are the dark and 

 recondite passages presented by my journal of 

 that winter, which I offer for the information and 

 guidance of all those who may purpose trying 

 novel experiments unsanctioned by the established 

 practice of their respective neighborhoods ; merely 

 observing, that there are some things besides the 

 soil, on this earth, which require a little tempering, 

 and pay well to a man's peace of mind for being 

 done quietly and neatly, without haste or heat, 

 yet smartly withal. 



Spring came at last: beautiful Spring! that fills 

 the old heart with youth, and softens down to a 

 more genial and hopeful tone the frosts and snows 



