32 CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM. 



foe bleeding out life and mischief at last and for ever. 

 The impulse of pent-up theory was irresistible. ' Let 

 it be spread over the land !' 



And so it was. And a very curious-looking field it 

 made for the livelong Winter that ensued. Wise men 

 came from all the quarters of the compass to look at 

 it. Some of their remarks and questions were very 

 flattering. " Where had I purchased my Winter top- 

 dressing ? as they should like to buy some at the same 

 shop, cost what it might." " What winter crop was 

 I growing so carefully under the variegated carpet ?" 

 To all which I answered with becoming gravity, and 

 modesty of my own merit. Some of the remarks 

 being of a more mysterious character I entered in my 

 Farm Journal for future explanation and experience ; 

 such for instance as that of an old gentleman who 

 shutting one eye, (I suppose it was a habit,) told me 

 with great blandness of manner that I had "put my 

 foot in it." (What could he mean?) Another was 

 so full of general good wishes that he " wished I might 

 get it" more than once ; which I thought all the more 

 good-natured as he did not even stay to particularize 

 what crop he alluded to as wishing me to get, or how 

 much per acre. But of course I civilly ' wished him 

 the same' gently shutting one eye, as I saw it was the 



