THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR FARM. 307 



arranged to have the oxen belonging to some half- 

 dozen waggons fed and tended for the period in con- 

 sideration of the Kafir Chiefs receiving a knife and a 

 pair of sheets ! Only fancy that, when we in England 

 were stinting and starving to the lowest point of safety. 



But this brings me to a new reflection. The hard 

 winter months seem so rapidly waning, and the soft air 

 of spring so near, that the holders of hay are becoming 

 alarmed, and in Carnarvonshire lately we were offered 

 plenty of the most fragrant quality for £4 per ton. 

 The unreasonable charge for railway carriage, however, 

 would add another £2 the ton to this. 



By the way, one word of caution to the farming 

 youngsters who may desire to dabble with steam. There 

 is no possibility of persuading the men that there is 

 any risk whatever in the management of an engine, 

 and there is difficulty until they have had a fright or 

 two in keeping an occasional amateur from trying his 

 hand when the engineer's back is turned. During the 

 frost our bailiff deservedly got a "scalding" rebuff, 

 through the action of a half-frozen pipe, through which 

 the steam could not force its way as swiftly as was 

 desirable. I do not think he will repeat his experi- 

 ment. But, worse than that, we had nearly a bad 

 accident. I had taken the regular attendant away to 

 inspect some machinery ; on our return, we could hear 

 from the road a tremendous fuss going on in the engine- 

 house. Fortunately the carpenter had heard it, and 

 rushed in and raked out the fire, else I don't know what 

 might have happened. A stupid lad, who helps in the 

 feeding, thought to be mighty grand and get the food 

 all ready cut and pulped and steamed during the engi- 

 neer's absence. As the steam arose he of course got 



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