1 8 FRESH WOODS. 



line, and caught not even a minnow." Other 

 experiments for killing time he tried, and at 

 length had nothing for it but " to walk in the 

 churchyard and whistle till it was dinner- 

 time." 



Why do I quote the renowned but little- 

 read Captain at this point? Because Friday 

 was a terrific day for me ; a steady, unbroken 

 downpour. For a busy man "the happy 

 vacuity of all employment" was delicious 

 enough in anticipation ; but how to spend 

 my own " happy vacuity " in a farmhouse on 

 a rainy day was a problem which time helped 

 me to solve somehow. It was a day to be 

 remembered at the farm. Two sons were 

 busy in preparing for their voyage to South 

 America, in charge of the animals I have 

 previously mentioned. Packing sacks of 

 chopped provender for the cattle, branding 

 the animals, and starting them off to the 

 railway made a busy time. All were cleared 

 out at an early hour. The master had gone 

 with his sons to Liverpool, and I had to get 

 through the wet day as best I could. I, too, 

 was almost reduced " to whistle till dinner- 

 time." 



I well remember a similar day passed in 

 another farmhouse many years ago, and this 

 is how we spent it : 



