290 WATER BOOTS. 



well in rain or snow for stage coachmen, if these gentle- 

 men would just then condescend to wear them. 



Various dressings are recommended, though, perhaps, 

 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 " Swell-kiddy" would cross the street 

 after a shower. 



This recipe, however, though a double defence, I do 

 not mean to say is absolutely necessary; for I have 

 latterly found that neafsfoot oil answers every purpose. 



As another good recipe, I should prefer the following 

 one : 



RECIPE. 



Drying, oil ..... 1 pint. 



Yellow wax . . fjEjfili . . 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 

 other, boot, you will immediately remedy the inconvenience by ap- 

 plying a piece of gold-beaters' skin, and over that a little court 

 plaster, in order doubly to defend the part. But even in this trifle 

 there is a right and a wrong way of going to work. Instead of cutting 

 with scissors, and merely wetting the plaster, let it be for a moment 



