The Springy Wooden Jaws

I discovered a clean wooden clothespin resting quietly in the shade near the bench leg. Waddling over politely, I nudged its smooth pine sides with both plush paws and spotted a coiled metal spring in the center. Curious about how it moved, I pressed down firmly on the rounded back ends with my palms. Snap! The notched front jaws parted wide and clamped shut with a crisp wooden click. Delighted by this little spring-loaded mechanism, I maneuvered a stiff oak leaf between its teeth and wedged the base into a seam between the stones. It made the neatest standing flagpole right on the paving.