102 THE GARDENER. [March 



was summarily dismissci.1, and sent to a more laborious occupation. 

 "Why was this? Jealousy, jealousy which has dogged my footstei)S 

 through life, brought this about. True, I was at this precious spot at 

 early dawn, when the autumnal shower drenched me. I was there 

 when the icy dew subsequently chilled me, when the hoar-frost 

 whitened me, when the eastern wind penetrated me, when the wintry 

 snow covered me ; but I was also there when the gentle zephyr of 

 spring stimulated me, when the rich emerald leaves delighted me, 

 when the bursting buds joyed me. I was there to nurse the newl}''- 

 planted summer-beds, and to watch their development; but, alas! 

 when my favourite Carnation began to throw up its spikes, and I was, 

 with a gardener's natural instinct, training it, my joys were blighted. 

 How? Lady S. commended my neatness in tying and training, and 

 requested me to attend exclusively to all such work in her pet garden 

 as needed attention. I am aware of the imprudence of the request. . 

 A kind word to my master might have secured her aim, and saved me 

 a mountain of trouble. The words were thoughtlessly spoken, hov/- 

 ever, for she was naturally too kind to give wilful uneasiness or pain to 

 the humblest creature, much less to one who had contrived to insinu- 

 ate himself into her good graces. The words were spoken to a boy 

 whose conceit was already sufficiently advanced to need no l"urther 

 stimulus — to one who had been treated harshly, and who, conse- 

 quently, rejoiced that he had found one at least who could appreciate 

 his efforts — to one, moreover, who had not sufficient tact to represent a 

 command under the more attractive phase of a request — to one, alas ! 

 who knew that he was already regarded with jealousy, and foolhardy 

 enough to care not how much he increased it. Folly of youth ! 

 Independence may degenerate into insolence, indifference to scorn. 

 Seedling errors and mistakes may produce a plentiful crop of ill- 

 flavoured fruit ! 



I was forbidden the garden, and had to incur the odium of declining 

 to obey orders without an opportunity of exculpating myself. I had 

 neglected to obey her ladyship's commands, and was henceforth placed 

 without the pale of her favour. 



Green-eyed monster, jealousy ! how many a breast hast thou robbed 

 of ease and pleasure ! how many a wreck hast thou not made of 

 body and soul ! But I must proceed. 



I will not attempt to depict daily occurrences, for they would fill a 

 volume. I will only mention two or three that at the moment strike 

 me, with the view of improvinrj the circumstances. 



Hardly-worked and hardly-treated apprentices, listen ! During the 

 three years I was there, I was told the names of two plants by my 

 master, and these names I have now forg'^tten ; and this special favour 



