NECESSITY THE MOTHER OF INVENTION. ~ 127

long. However, it served well enough for the uses which I had
occasion to put it to; but never was a shovel, I believe, made after
that fashion, or so long a-making.

 

“AND BROUGHT IT HOME TOO WITH DIFFICULTY ENOUGH.”

I was still deficient, for I wanted a basket or a wheelbarrow. A
basket I could not make by any means, having no such things as
twigs that would bend to make wicker ware, at least none yet
found out. And as to a wheelbarrow, I fancied I could make all
but the wheel, but that I had no notion of, neither did I know
how to go about it; besides, I had no possible way to make the
iron gudgeons for the spindle or axis of the wheel to run in, so I
gave it over. And so, for carrying away the earth which I dug
out of the cave, I made me a thing like a hod, which the labourers
carry mortar in when they serve the bricklayers.

This was not so difficult to me as the making the shovel ;
and yet this and the shovel, and the attempt which I made in vain
to make ‘a wheelbarrow, took me up no less than four days—I
mean always excepting my morning walk with my gun, which I
seldom failed, and very seldom failed also bringing home something
fit to eat.

November 23. My other work having now stood still because of
my making these tools, when they were finished I went on, and

working every day as my strength and time allowed, I spent
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