286 APPENDIX. 



his work look comfortable. The removal of the 

 feathery load from road and trench is not the labour 

 of an hour ; and when you look at the red earth 

 rising above the snow, and visited by the robin 

 at the clear sky, and highways unfit for riding or 

 walking at the dry and broken subsoil thirsting 

 for the riddle it is scarcely possible, in the bracing 

 air, to resist the temptation of pick or shovel, one 

 of which is sure to be at leisure; and surely worse 

 might be done than to spend in such a way one or 

 more such hours. 



There is a peculiarity of the boy's age which 

 ought not to be overlooked. He approaches man- 

 hood, and is ambitious of the various working im- 

 plements that are proper to a man the hedgebill, 

 the scythe, the saw, or the joiner's plain; and as he 

 thus has the willingness, certain it is, if you have 

 the tools and can show their use, he will on a few 

 trials do tolerably well with them all ; with the 

 scythe, not fora hay crop, but a handful of grass; 

 or in hard weather, if restricted to the upward cut, 

 he may prune a hedge; or, besides preparing fire- 

 wood, he will dress with a plane the pieces of an 

 upright paling, which take long time, but need no 

 fineness of polish. 



Should your boy grow an adept, a little rise of 

 wages, well bestowed, may keep him for another 

 year ; but the probability is that shortly after you 

 have made him useful, he is off to farm service or 

 some trade. But the better he is you are the surer 

 of another as good. His fame is in your favour; 



