182 SPLITTING OLD ROOTS 



The wedge/' said Mr. Longhurst, is the 

 first of the mechanical powers ; and its effects^ 

 indeed^ are surprising^ as you will soon see." 



A wedge was then held, touching the wood, 

 by one man, while another struck it rather 

 gently with the wooden hammer, called a 

 beetle. " Gently ! gently ! " cried the man 

 with the wedge. 



I suppose," said Harriet, he is afraid that 

 his hand will be hurt." 



O, no. Miss," said he ; but, if we hits 

 too hard, the wedge won't draw''' 



I explained, that such was the extreme re- 

 sistance of the wood against the smooth sides 

 of the iron, that its tendency was to throw the 

 wedge out, and that, if they struck it too hard 

 at first, this was sure to be the case. The 

 man, encouraged by the iron seeming to have 

 a hold, now hit harder, when it jumped out. 



