VII 

 THE HARVEST OF MY FIRST SEEDING 



IT is recorded in my diary that within the first 

 week of my release from the service of men many 

 weak spots revealed themselves in the armour 

 which the daily round and common task forged 

 upon me in my first season on the farm. On the 

 first day I met with bad luck. I was due to fetch 

 barley chop from Guy Mazey for the well-being of 

 my pigs, but Nancy burst her halter and made off, 

 and refused to be caught until after sunset. It is 

 registered that I failed to milk that night. On 

 the following day comes the entry, " Stayed in 

 bed until 7.30, being deeply interested in 'The 

 Marriage of William Ashe,' but remembered my 

 duties suddenly and got out on the stroke of remem- 

 brance." On the next, " An awful morning, 

 intensely hot. Severe headache, and took at least 

 two hours to find the cows, who had got right away. 

 Lost my temper and blasphemed badly and loudly 

 and bitterly. I haven't the common sense to lay 

 hold of method to prevent these happenings, nor 

 the self-control to bear the natural result." Later 

 in the week, " Rose with the sun. Went out and 

 did my chores one by one thinking of the thing 

 I was doing all the time, or at least remembering 

 to try to. Kept my temper when Molly kicked 



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