shall, if I have no further reminders of this sort, that
my children are made of the same unreliable material."

That afternoon, the three, started for the pottery works. Mr. Sands,
the proprietor, kindly received them, and fully explained all his
processes. First he pointed out what seemed to Charley a heap of dry
hard common dirt; taking a little piece of this he dipped it into a
basin of water and then squeezing and pressing it in his hand it soon
became soft, and plastic, so that it could be wrought to any shape. He
then led the party to another room where a young man was engaged in
thus softening large masses. He would first crumble the hard earth
into fine pieces; then wet and pack it together into a "loaf," so
Charley called it, and then raising it over his head throw it again
with all his might upon the table before him until it became soft and
smooth through all its bulk. This, Mr. Sands said, was called "wedging
the clay," and that it was now ready for "throwing" into shape.

"Will it come into shape if you just throw it?" said Charley.

Mr. Sands laughed heartily at this, and answered, "come and see;" and
taking up one of the softened "loaves," to use Charley's word for
them, he led the way to the next room. The young man who had been
"wedging" now followed and placed himself at a large wheel which was
connected by a strap or belt with a table at which Mr. Sands seated
himself.

[Illustration: HOW POTS AND PANS ARE MADE.]

Upon the table was another little table, round and low, and upon
this Mr. Sands placed his "loaf." Then the young man began to turn the
wheel and the loaf began to spin round very rapidly. Mr. Sands next
pressed his finger right through the middle of the clay, so farming
the hole which we always see at the bottom of flower-pots. Then, as it
spun round, he worked the clay gradually upwards and sloped it
outwards, using both hands, and holding the edges with his fingers and
thumbs.

Before Charley could express his surprise, the little roll of clay was
changed into a flower-pot. With a square iron tool called a _rib_ it
was smoothed outside, and then the pot was lifted on a board. One
after another followed till a long row was ready and they were carried
off to be dried.

"How do you know when to leave off stretching it?" asked Mary of the
potter.

He laughed, and pointed to a small iron gauge on the table. As soon as
the pot reached this he knew he must leave off stretching it out.