THE NATURAL MAN 253 



rods, trimmed and split, takes even a quick and deft 

 hand an hour to turn out. The maker gets fourpence 

 a hurdle. Many can recall the time when he got 

 much smaller pay. No wonder a good man should 

 now and then be sorely tempted, if not to scamp, at 

 least to haste with his work. He may be a great 

 worker, earnest to make the utmost out of his day in 

 the copse. On a fine February day, in his prime of 

 life and labour, he may make his nine hurdles three 

 shillings. Late in the spring, weather favouring, he 

 may make a dozen, if the material is ready at hand 

 directly he reaches his frame about daybreak. Here 

 is a four-shilling day ; twenty-four shillings a week if 

 he could reckon on six such days, but what hurdler 

 ever could ? He may feel that he must make his 

 hurdles quick, whilst the sun shines lay up the little 

 he can against bad days, perhaps bad seasons, coming. 

 He may put it to himself that a few finishing touches, 

 mere artistry of the work, will not make the employer 

 of his labour or the buyer of his hurdle richer ; whilst 

 they would make him poorer ; poorer, say, by four- 

 pence a day, two shillings a week, a very serious sum 

 if he is to put by a little in the village savings' bank 

 against old age. 



Here then we have the attitude of the woodman 

 who strives to make a dozen good, workmanlike, but 

 not exceptional hurdles in a day. On the other hand 

 is the woodman, proud of his fame as the most finished 

 hurdler in the district, who works slower and is 



