24 History of Gutta-Percha Willie.
“But such little bits of coal couldn’t do much ?”
said Willie.

“ They could do enough, and all that’s less after
that is saving,” said the smith, who was one of
those men who can not only do a thing right but
give a reason for it. “You see I was able to put
the little bits just in the right place.”

“T see! I see!” cried Willie. “I understand {
But, papa, do you think Mr Willet is the proper
person to ask to set your lock right ?”

“T haven’t a doubt of it,” said Mr Macmichael,
taking it out of his greatcoat pocket, and unfold-
ing the piece of paper in which he had wrapped it.
“Why do you make a question of it?”

“Because look what great big huge things he
does! How could those tremendous hammers set
stich a little thing as that right ?) They would knock
it all to pieces. Don’t you think you had better
take it to the watchmaker?”

“Tf I did, Willie, do you know what you would
say the moment you saw him at work ?”

“No, papa. What should I say?”

“You would say, ‘Don’t you think, papa, you
had better take it back to the smith?’”

“But why should I say that?”

“Because, when you saw his tools beside this
lock, you would think the tools so small and the
lock so huge, that nothing could be done between
them. Yet I daresay the watchmaker could set