94 Wild Life in a Southern County 



naturally curves in the way he desires, or is specially fitted 

 for his purpose. 



For, like a ship, the true old-fashioned waggon is full 

 of curves, and there is scarcely a straight piece of wood 

 about it. Nothing is angular or square ; and each piece 

 of timber, too, is carved in some degree, bevelled at the 

 edges, the sharp outline relieved in one way or another, 

 and the whole structure like a ship, seeming buoyant, and 

 floating, as it were, easily on the wheels. Then the paint- 

 ing takes several weeks, and after that the lettering of the 

 name ; and when at last completed it is placed outside by 

 the road, that every farmer and labourer who goes by may 

 pause and admire. In about twelve months, if the builder 

 be expeditious (for him), the new vessel may reach her 

 port under the open shed at the farm, and then her life of 

 voyages begins. 



Her cargoes are hay and wheat and huge mountainous 

 loads of straw, and occasionally hurdles for the shepherd. 

 Nor are her voyages confined to the narrow seas of the 

 fields adjoining home ; now and then she goes on adven- 

 turous expeditions to distant market towns, carrying 

 mayhap a cargo of oak-bark, stripped from fallen trees, to 

 the tan-yard. Then she is well victualled for the voyage, 

 and her course mapped out on the chart in order to avoid 

 the Scylla of steep hills and stony ways and the Charybdis 

 of tollgates, besides being duly cautioned against the sirens 

 that chant so sweetly from the taps of the roadside inns. 

 Or she sails down to the far-away railway station after coal 

 — possibly two or more vessels in the same convoy — if the 

 steam plough be at work and requires the constant services 

 of these tenders. 



She has her own special crew — her captain the carter 

 — and for forecastle men a lad or two, and often a couple 



