LOW PRICES AND LONG FACES. 125 



and of good, with which each moment as it passed 

 seemed pregnant. 



How wise we are, as we look back ! How clear- 

 sightedly we discover each blunder, and its cause; 

 how surely we believe that hert at least and tftere at 

 least forgive us this once, O Common sense and 

 J udgment ! and we will promise never to be such 

 fools again ! 



Did ever man build a house or farm a farm or 

 even drain a marshy meadow and not feel some 

 touch of this provoking after- wisdom that comes too 

 late, telling of material and money wasted plans in- 

 sufficiently considered, too hastily accredited tiles 

 mislaid, too shallow or too deep, or in the wrong 

 direction ? In the matter of brick-and-mortar such 

 aftersight is grown a proverb ; and is it otherwise in 

 laud ? Let him that has never felt it, cast the first 

 stone : he has known little of Life's learning who has 

 never repeated to himself how true it is that Expe- 

 rience is never given, but always bought ; at the 



top price of the market too ! 



But there is this consoling difference between Bricks, 

 and Tiles, that is to say, between Building and Farm- 

 ing : that whereas in the former case you always find 

 your cost in having done too much, proceeded on too 



