70 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



above his surroundings, whilst the northerner 

 almost invariably strives to do this, and not 

 un frequently succeeds. 



As a lad he is well schooled, and at four- 

 teen begins " service." At half-yearly hiring 

 ■ — Whitsuntide or Martinmas — he goes to the 

 nearest countrv town and stands in the market- 

 place. He is attired in a brand-new suit, with 

 a capacious necktie of green and red. These 

 articles he has donned upon the memorable 

 morning, and, as a gift from his parents, they 

 constitute " his start in life." The country 

 barber has left his head pretty much as the 

 modern reaper leaves the stubble, and has not 

 stinted him of grease for his money. As an 

 outward and visible sign of his intention, he 

 sticks a straw in his mouth and awaits the 

 issue. For the first hour or so he keeps his 

 eyes bent on the pavement, as though to read 

 the riddle of his life there, but presently gains 

 confidence to look about him. After waiting 

 the greater part of the morning, and seeing 

 many of his fellow-men and maid-servants 

 hired, he is accosted by a stalwart yeoman, 

 who inquires if he wants a " spot " (a place, 

 a situation). The boy replies that he does, that 



