DOGS AND HORSES 275 
This was a new idea to me, and I looked into 
it with some interest. I knew that Jane was 
deft with her fingers, but I did not know that 
she had a special wish to cultivate this deftness 
or to put it to practical use. 
«What can you do with a forge?” said I. 
«You can’t shoe the horses or sharpen the 
ploughs. Can you make nails? They are 
machine-made now, and you couldn’t earn ten 
cents a week, even at horse-shoe nails.” 
«I don’t want to make nails, Dad; I want to 
work in copper and brass, and iron, too, but in 
girl fashion. Mary Town has a forge in Hart- 
ford, and I spent lots of Saturdays with her. 
She says that I am cleverer than she is, but of 
course she was jollying me, for she makes beauti- 
ful things; but I can learn, and it’s great fun.” 
«What kind of things does this young lady 
make, dear?” 
« Lamp-shades, paper-knives, hinges, bag-tops, 
buckles, and lots of things. She could sell them, 
too, if she had to. It’s like learning a trade, 
Dad.” 
« All right, child, you shall have a forge, if 
you will agree not to burn yourself up. Do 
you roll up your sleeves and wear a leather 
apron ?” 
« Why, of course, just like a blacksmith; only 
mine will be of soft brown leather and pinked 
at the edges.” 
_ So Jane was to have her forge. We selected 
