Mr. Seth found, when he had finished his work upon the bail, that he had about worn up his mallet with so much mortising in the tough wood; and recollecting that, some months before, he had seen a stick of hornbeam about the right size on the woodpile at the old Cuthbert house, took a saw in his hand, and went over to get a piece. Hearing the boys at work inside, he crept up, and peeped through a crevice in the logs. Archie was on his knees on the floor, tugging with his right hand at the wheel, while his left was leaning on a stone placed for that purpose; and Sammy was making a pot. Equally surprised and delighted, he looked on a while in silence; and, as he could not obtain a good view of Sam where he stood, he went to the window that was open. Archie's back was towards him, and Sam was too intent upon his work to notice him. The kindly nature of the old mechanic was stirred to the quick when he saw Sam actually turn a pot of good shape with such machinery as that; and he vowed internally that he would make him a potter's wheel before the lad was a week older, but, upon reflection, concluded it would be better to help him a little, and not too much at once. "So you've made a wheel for yourselves, have you?" said Uncle Seth, showing himself at the window. The wheel stopped. Archie jumped up: Sam colored, his face as red as red paint. "Don't be bashful," said Uncle Seth, getting in at the window. "I think you've done first rate, most remarkable: that pot's as good as a pot need be." "We was afraid you'd laugh at us, Uncle Seth, and so we didn't like to tell you." "Laugh at you! I praise you: you've done wonderful. Now let me see you make a pot." Sammy had turned one pot, and, drawing a string under it, took it from the wheel with his hands; in so doing, he put it a little out of form, but repaired it by pressing it into shape again with his fingers. Sammy turned two more pots, each one being an improvement on the former one; being put on his mettle by the praises of Uncle Seth. He then told him that Archie's contract was completed, but that Scip was going to help him in the afternoon. "What made you put your large wheel flat on the floor? why didn't you set it on the legs?" "'Cause it wouldn't go so: the band would slip right off the little wheel." "Cross the band, then it won't." "Cross the band!" This was a step farther than Sammy's knowledge of machinery extended. Uncle Seth took the wheel from the floor, put the legs in again, crossed the band, and put it on the wheel. "Now you can stand up, and turn: put some clay on the wheel, and I'll turn for you." Uncle Seth turned, and Sam made another pot. The boys could hardly contain themselves, they were so delighted. "How much you do know, Uncle Seth!" said Archie: "we don't know any thing."