MARCH. 73 



perfect model of a fence of that sort, so impervious, so complete, and 

 trimmed to such exact symmetry ; his vegetables are not only of the 

 best quality, but perfectly in season ; but it is in strawberry- time 

 that he is in all his glory, — his fruit is so well ripened, the sorts are 

 so well selected, and his succession is so good, that it is almost a 

 favour, in some seasons, to be supplied by him ; in gooseberries he 

 is also very great, and can talk with critical discrimination upon 

 the claims of the " Old Ironmonger," the "Roaring Lion," and the 

 " Crown Bob." I believe, by this fruit alone, he has, in some years, 

 more than paid the rent of all his land. He boasts, not without 

 reason, that he has produced the best early pea ; and, by a skilful 

 selection and crossing of varieties, he has obtained a broccoli which 

 would almost have made his fortune, if he had been related to the 

 family of Mr. Worldly-wiseman ; but he never had the least ambition 

 for what is vulgarly called rising in the world. At one time he 

 would work after dark, sticking a caudle in the ground to dig by ; 

 but now, as he grows older, he takes things rather easier ; still you 

 will mostly find him in his garden, except in the shooting- season, 

 and then he is never long away. I must not omit to say that he 

 now always shoots with a certificate, like other gentlemen ; and 

 though he cannot help running a little cunning, he wishes to be 

 considered a fair sportsman. 



His boys shew a good deal of the old breed ; though I fear their 

 father has been too indulgent, and not bestowed so much pains on 

 their culture as on his broccoli, peas, and rhubarb. Some time 

 since, a gentleman, who felt an interest in their welfare, had one 

 of them, a fine, intelligent-looking little fellow, bound apprentice 

 to a respectable sea-captain ; but he could not bear the change. 

 When the strawberry-season came on, he described his feelings as 

 intolerable : no doubt, like Wordsworth's boy, 



" He in his hours 

 Of tiresome indolence woukl often hang 

 Over the vessePs side, and gaze and gaze : 

 And while the broad, green waves and sparkling foam 

 Flashed round him ***** 



Below him, in the bosom of the deep, 

 Saw gardens, saw the form of sheep that grazed 

 On verdant hills, with dwellings among trees, 

 And shepherds clad in the same country grey 

 Which he himself had worn." 



When the ship returned to England, he took the first opportunity 

 of running off; and I dare say his master never inquired after him. 

 The boys w^ould have made excellent gardeners if they had been 

 forced from home, and thrown more upon their own resources. 



Time has had a softening and mellowing effect upon Old God- 

 frey ; and I hope when his hour of departure may come, he will be 

 ripe for a better world. Still " what is bred in the bone will never 

 be out of the flesh ;" and I have heard a pious neighbour say, who 

 sometimes walks with him to a delightful eminence near his garden, 

 and reads to him in the Bible or some religious publication, which 

 want of education unfortunately prevents Godfrey doing for him- 



