WATER BOOTS. 295 



very far above the knees, in order to protect them 

 from cold or wet. Nothing, by the way, would 

 answer so well in rain or snow for stage coachmen, 

 if these gentlemen would just then condescend to 

 wear them. 



Various dressings are recommended, though, per- 

 haps, almost any grease may answer; but the first 

 and most effectual application might be tar, tallow, 

 and bees' wax, melted (not too warm), and then 

 poured into the boots; which, after having this 

 shaken into every part of them, should be hung up 

 to let it run out. By this dressing, and the sacrifice 

 of the first pair of stockings that follows it, we may 

 walk in the river with more comfort than a Bond 

 Street lounger would cross the street after a shower. 



This recipe, however, though a double defence, I 

 do not mean to say is absolutely necessary. 



As another good recipe, I should prefer the follow- 

 ing one : 



RECIPE. 



Drying oil 1 pint. 



Yellow wax . .2 ounces. 



Turpentine . -2 ounces. 



Burgundy pitch ~ -1 ounce. 



Melt these over a slow fire, and then add a few drachms of 

 essential oil of lavender (or thyme). With this your boots are 

 to be rubbed with a brush, either in the sun, or at some distance 

 from the fire. The application must be repeated, as often as the 

 boots become dry again, until they are fully saturated. 



If your heel should become galled by walking in a water-, or any 



