166 CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM. 



Ay, ay! Now I think of it they tell me you're 

 always a-driving somehow against the plough. Well, 

 what's the matter with it? So long as it's a good 

 'un, mind ! Come now, I should like to hear from 

 your own lips what you 've got to say agin' it. I can 

 not understand them books, so it 's no use trying ; 

 and I do try, that 's a fact ; but as sure as I get half 

 way down a page I go to sleep. A lot o' Chemistry 

 and stuff ! I'll back Common Sense agin' Chemistry 

 any day. But I should like just to hear you on a bit 

 about the plough I think I could understand that ; 

 but you must please keep the words close-cropped 

 you know, no raspers! A farmer's words should 

 be like his hedges, I always think, plain and short 

 and smooth-like, and not too many of 'em ! and then 

 they may help to ' fill the bushel ' after all, p'rhaps. 

 But about the plough beg pardon you was a saying 



something ' 



" No, no ! go on, Greening ! I like to hear you." 

 11 Well, I've done, i' faith ! clean out, like. I'm your 

 listener for half an hour more, if you can spare it." 

 " Can you promise that ? I've had many a useful 

 hint from you Could you sit and listen to my non- 

 sense now, just for half an hour, straight on end no 

 snoring allowed, mind ! and what if I were to read 



