FURTHER EXPERIENCES OF MR. STALE. 
the first thought to work upon. The first thought is 
the rough block of stone, which the second thought 
chisels into a handsome shape, and whoever heard 
of, or possibly could conceive the possibility of a nicely 
cfarved stone having any existence if there had not 
previously existed a coarse rough block. Here, he 
became quite exhausted for want of breath, so we 
lead him to the couch, and say, “ Lie down and com- 
plete your discourse some other time, bottle up your 
thoughts, both first and second, in case they run away 
with the small amount of breath left you.” But it was 
quite apparent that he wanted to say something and could 
not lie quiet, so in order to ease his mind he was told 
to speak whenever he felt able. After drawing a long 
breath he continued, ‘‘Upon second thoughts I considered 
it best just to have a look at the land at once, 
while on the spot, which of course would save another 
day, in coming back now.” We reply, “You know or 
ought to have known that all that forest is already 
private property, and nothing has been heard of its 
owners wishing to sell, so in any case you have just 
wasted a day all for nothing, when you might have 
been at home settling up your own business which 
you say was so very pressing as to necessitate that 
most unfriendly action on your part of running away 
and leaving your travelling companion in the jungle, 
a very unkind action for which you have been suitably 
rewarded,” Well, well,” says he, evidently quite 
ashamed of the subject and of himself, “ now, when 
I think of it you are quite right. How very stupid 
it was.” And thus it was that obstinacy actually 
acknowledged promptitude and decision to have been 
quite right, and himself to have been very stupid. 
But mark this well, after it was too late^ after he had 
not only eaten your grapes, but had his teeth well set on 
edge, he even brought himself quite in a spontaneous 
manner to declare (but this was when his mouth 
and teeth were yet sore) that method or system, 
although apparently tardy, in the long run was the 
safest and surest, and that its after results were 
lasting, benefiting not only yourself, but many others 
who would come after you on the jungle path, be it 
through the forest, or through life. “ Just suppose,” he 
continued, “I had, by good luck, come direct through 
that forest, and left you far behind, no one else would 
ever have been one bit the better of my passage 
through. J'hey could not have undertaken the trip with 
any safety, I left no marks, while you, while at the 
same time securing your own way, also opened up 
as a safe path for all who chose. They knew it was 
safe because jmu had successfully opened it out, whereas 
I in sheer obstinacy lost valuable time*, got all scratched 
