62 CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM. 



sians to think over every important plan twice : first, 

 in the morning when they were sober, and again in 

 the evening when they were making speeches ; and 

 vice versa : and as decision and steady purpose, in the 

 field, when the work is once begun, is as useful, and 

 almost as necessary, to the Farmer, as to the Field- 

 marshal ; and as that exacting and important branch 

 of the community your neighbours don't usually 

 approve of your doings until they understand them 

 or in other words, laugh at you, till you begin (or 

 might begin) to laugh at them ; it is eminently advis- 

 able, at least I found it so, to call a pretty frequent 

 meeting of that privy-council which every man is 

 Chairman of, who has got Daylight and Eyes, Candle- 

 light and Brains, a Farm and a good Map of it. And 

 if, O ! ardent and yet perhaps sensitive Beginner, you 

 Avill take one word of advice from an 'old file' if 

 once you have come to a determined vote and conclu- 

 sion, after full deliberation with these fellow-council- 

 lors, and after hearing all they have got to urgejoro 

 and con, don't let anything or anybody divert or 

 modify your plan. Your experience and mine will 

 differ very much if you do not find more expense, and 

 more regret, left behind invariably by an under-done 

 than by an over-done job. "The first expense is the 



