54 CHRONICLES OP A CLAY FARM. 



that reign within, as without, through dreary winter. 

 Certain reports respecting the field which had been 

 drained, and so curiously "top-dressed," had from 

 time to time altered the current of opinion that 

 hitherto run so strongly all one way. The under- 

 wagoner had told somebody in strict confidence 

 that the snow had disappeared on that field much 

 sooner than from any other. This had been re- 

 peated in equal confidence from mouth to mouth, 

 with the addition that all the clay had "kicked 

 down to ashes ; " but what topped every thing 

 was that before even Bean-sowing had begun, the 

 "motley close" was reported "as dry as a bone." 



The Harrow is certainly not the most ingenious 

 or perfect of agricultural implements ; but never 

 was a more surprising feat performed by any, than 

 was witnessed one fine morning early in March, 

 when it was ordered over the field afore mentioned ! 

 Down went the clay, sand, peat, and every thing else, 



" Black spirits and white, 

 Blue spirits and gray, 

 Mingle, mingle, mingle, 

 Ye that mingle may ! " 



And " mingle" in truth they did, into as free healthy- 

 looking a soil, as fresh and as mellow as if it had 

 never lain underground or been out of the sunshine. 



