800 THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR FARM. 



agaiDst. "Like a cup of tea! Certainly, if you please.'* 

 And as a nurse does to an infant, or a keeper to a mar- 

 moset monkey, he dabbed a lozenge into my expectant 

 lip-enclosure. " Thanks," I spluttered, and immediately 

 thereupon there commenced such a resolution of primary 

 elements. The little hard concentrated cake dissolving 

 gradually, communicated to my dry palate the refreshing 

 flavour of that most aromatic compound we call " tea," 

 cream, sugar, and all. Voluming gradually out, as a 

 wreath of smoke above the discharged field-piece, it 

 seemed to permeate and pervade every part of one's 

 system, sending the blood back from the brain, and 

 bracing the nerves exactly as a real draught of the 

 imitated beverage might. Thanks to that tall Yankee 

 for the refreshment and comfort he gave me ; the like 

 of which I expect in turn from all who shall avail them- 

 selves of my own original above-mentioned sj)ecific for 

 intense hunger on a frigid day. 



Over my pipe ! Well, then, what's the first reflec- 

 tion ? Why, simply that I have drifted very far away 

 from all agricultural subjects, excepting that onions and 

 grapes grow in fields, of either Egypt or Italy. This 

 cup of tea had an immense power of flotation, but by 

 dint of exceeding energy I must recover my moorings. 



Reflection, therefore. No. 2. Why, simply that I 

 shall be glad when all these youngsters have gone back 

 to school. 



Reflection No. 3. This winter and the condition on 

 their return from school of these said youngsters have 

 taught me a lesson I shall not forget. With the scan- 

 tiest possible provision in my rickyards, so scanty in fact 

 as long since to have brought down upon our establish- 

 ment ridicule from some, and, what was worse, un- 



