HINDRANCES AND HELPS 



largely into fruit?" upon which you offer him 

 a Red-Astrachan, and remark that the Weigelia 

 has not borne thus far; it is a Chinese shrub, 

 and little understood as yet. 



"Is it possible— Chinese! so far;— it seems 

 to thrive." And it does. 



And you stroll with him upon the hill; 

 though you cannot but see that his mind is 

 warping back to "laryngeal affections," or 

 "half-of-one-per-cent. off." 



A lucky interruption appears, in the shape 

 of a fine Devon cow. You venture to call his 

 attention to her, and ask if she is not a fine 

 animal ? 



"Admirable!" and with a kindly interest, 

 he asks— if she is n't a Short-horn? 



"Not a Short-horn," you reply ; and in way 

 of apology for his error, remark that she has 

 broken off one of her horns in the fence. 



At which he says,— "Ah, I see now;— but 

 resembles the Short-horns, does n't she?" 



"Yes—" you return, mildly— "a little; her 

 legs are like; and I think she carries her tail — 

 a good deal in the Short-horn way." 



At which he is himself again, and is pre- 

 pared for a new farm venture. It comes pres- 

 ently, as a fine brood of Bremen geese waddle 

 into sight. 



281 



