FIRST STEPS IN THE WRONG ROAD. 25 



they were going away, " New brooms sweep 

 clean." " Ay,' 7 thought I, " and so will the 

 old stump, if you only put it to the right 

 kind of work." 



I found I'd a comfortable place of it; 

 and now and then a brother gardener would 

 call in, for I didn't go about much, and in 

 particular when the family was away, though 

 then's a leisure time. But evenings in win- 

 ter seemed long ; and one day a neighbour- 

 ing gardener asked me if I'd go to the 

 King's Head on a Wednesday evening, and 

 smoke a pipe with a few more that met in a 

 friendly way. I didn't think much about it, 

 and said I would ; and yet before that time, 

 and I don't know why, I wished I hadn't 

 agreed. However, as I'd promised, I thought 

 I'd go and see what it was like ; and if it 

 didn't please me, I needn't keep it up. 



It was a cold February evening when I 

 walked to the King's Head ; and, I believe 

 you, it was a pleasant sight, the great fire, 

 and clean sanded floor, and well -rubbed 

 tables, with clean pipes and screws of to- 

 bacco, and a box, that when a penny was 

 dropped in opened its lid, and said, " Fill 

 away ; but shut down tight, or pay another 



