22 CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM. 



dered. I knew he hated the sight of the Level that 

 curious-looking thing on three sticks, worse than 

 the old gentleman that walks upon two. What if I 

 could reconcile these two great opposing authorities 

 by one timely stroke make him Master-of-arts on 

 the spot, before the eyes of all his men ? Shorter and 

 less earned degrees have been taken in the world. 

 The opportunity was irresistible. I had it brought ; 

 adjusted it ; and told him to look through it and give 

 me his opinion of the Fall. If you ever saw a dog put 

 his nose to a wasp's nest, you may form some idea of 

 the mistrustful curiosity and hesitating aversion with 

 which he brought his face into close contact with his 

 arch-enemy. 



A long indescribable process ensued : a most deter- 

 mined effort to close the left eye with the right hand 

 then the right eye with the left hand then a dead 

 stillness, and a long fumbling breathless view of the 

 world turned upside down, and his men standing on 

 their heads for the first time, in spite of the forty 

 years' experience to the contrary : and then 



" Well I don't know but what you're right Sir : the 

 Fall does want a leetle easing at the bottom !" 



The success was complete. In half an hour every 

 tile was uncovered. The men worked as men work 



