34 CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM. 



so strongly all one way. The under-wagoner had 

 told somebody in strict confidence that the snow 

 had disappeared on that field much sooner than 

 from any other. This had been repeated in equal 

 confidence from mouth to mouth, with the addition 

 that all the clay had ' kicked down to ashes ; } but 

 what topped everything was that before even Bean- 

 sowing had begun, the ' motley close' was reported 

 1 as dry as a bone ! ; 



The Harrow is certainly not the most ingenious or 

 perfect of agricultural implements ; but never was a 

 more surprising feat performed by any, than was wit- 

 nessed one fine morning early in March, when it was 

 ordered over the field afore-mentioned ! Down went 

 the clay, sand, peat, and everything else, 



" Black spirits and white, 

 Blue spirits and grey, 

 Mingle, mingle, mingle, 

 Ye that mingle may !" 



And ' mingle ' in truth they did, into as free healthy- 

 looking a soil, as fresh and as mellow as if it had 

 never lain underground or been out of the sunshine. 

 With every turn of the horses, better and better it 

 looked and worked. An increasing elasticity of move- 

 ment seemed to pervade men, horses, harrows, soil, 



