OF THE JOURNAL OF HORTICtlLTURE. 



17 



I 



striving, workinj; chisscs. I believe tliat tlic penny postage 

 is most closely associated with all moral improvement. Use 

 it freely, my young friends, when you leave home. Teni])ta- 

 tions to walk in the "downward road" will be found weak, 

 just in proportion as the home influences of purity and love 

 arc strong, and preserved as evergreens in our memory. 

 There will he little danger of going wrong so long as an 

 unbroken, ontsiuiken, confidential correspondence, is main- 

 tained between child and parent, and between brother and 

 sister. The felt sympathy of those he loves, and its frequent 

 expression, will make a young man 



*' strong in all he dai'cs to do 

 For the right and for the true." 



Favourite authors allnded to might have well led mo to 

 speak of the advantages young people possess now from a 

 cbeaii instructive serial literature. Mawe's Calendar and 

 London's Encyclopaedia were the stand.ard works on garden- 

 ing. The Gardeners' Magazine was the only professional 

 periodical ; and that, so far as I recollect, was 2s. 6rf. or 3s. 

 per number. In a cheap foitn, there was little between the 

 mostly worse than trash .sold by hawkers, and the more sub- 

 stantial fare provided l>y the Keligious Tract Society. Young 

 people now can fonu little idea of the zest and relish with 

 which I perused the first numbers of Chambers' Edinburgh 

 Journal,— the grivnd pioneer of a cheap, pure, instructive, 

 general . literature for the people. A good deal was done in 

 those days by lending and borrowing books, and we were so 

 far saved from what is now a common danger — in a literary 

 sense — the danger of actually starving in the midst of identy ; 

 and because of the ]ilenty, as from the plenty to read, there 

 is less time for thonglit anil consideration. 1 and my com- 

 rades also knew something of wliat was going on in the 

 world, from joiiung in taking in a weekly newsjiaper. The 

 paper which cost sixpence was neither half so large nor half 

 so good as now can be had for a penny. I pass such matters, 

 however, to mention a few other recollections of the old bothy. 

 In .addition to those who slept there, more gardeners and 

 labourers met there for breakfast and dinner; and thongh 

 there was no lack of roughish animal spirits, I never heard an 

 expression approaching indelicacy. I never saw cards, dice, 

 or any sort of gambling on the premises. A racy old woman 

 came every morning to xnwolh the beds, make breakfast, and, 

 as to clearing up, gave the ]jlace a lick and a promise. As 

 to the fire, that had never been out fur thirty years, so the old 

 chi'oniclers of the place stated, as coat was found in the 

 neighboin-hood. One of us took the cooking and general 

 supervision week about ; and it was the custom to get our 

 snppcr as soon as possible after finishing the day's work. 

 Before supper time no place could be more of a Babel : there 



would be whistling, singing, shoutuig, and even danciiig; 

 and violins, flutes, clarionets, fifes,— all at work, and often 

 each pr.actising a diftercnt tunc or piece of music. But this 

 all dropped after supper, and no one then attempted to inter- 

 fere with the necessaiy quiet so essential for reading, study- 

 ing &c Those who wished to continue their musical jier- 

 formances just walked themselves off outside, and all tins 

 seemed to be done witliout any particul.ar law or regulation 

 on the subject. The time for going to bed was froin ten to 

 eleven, and if any one attempted to keep the candle burning 

 after that time he got an immistakeable hint, by an old 

 shoe coming in too close proximity to the cmn lestick, and 

 leaving the place in darkness. Of course such beneficial 

 regulations were departed from when we had gardening or 

 other visitors, and more especially when a few friends or 

 nei'dibours came on imitation. Then we all did our best to 

 honour our guests in a humble w.ay ; and in comparing notes, 

 harmless repartee, strokes of wit and humour, animated dis- 

 cussion, song, sentiment, and recitation, we did enjoy the 

 feast of reason and the flow of soul." r . 1 1 



Ah ! but these pleasant mementos of the days ol Aula 

 Lang Syne too truly — 



" Itemind me of dep.irteil joys— 

 Departod never to return ;" 



for some of the choicest spirits that were there-first iii frolic, 

 first in efforts for self-improvement, and first in large-hearted 

 generosity— I shall meet no more in the course of life sjourney. 

 As far as I recollect I spent the next Christmas, especially 

 in the evening, with the under-servants at the mansion. Much 

 of the high order maintained in the establishment was greatly 

 owing to keeping evervbody, as well as everything, in its 

 proper place. The proprietors I scarcely ever saw, but 1 telt 

 that they wished their depend.ants and servants to rejoice with 

 them I have a vivid recollection of the feasting, the music, 

 and dancing at harvest-home. I seem to hear the songs and 

 sentiments— freely vented on New Year's Day, when all em- 

 ployed on the estate dined together ; and again, on Christmas 

 Eve, or Christmas evening, the gardeners were invited to the 

 hall. But for the mass andthc prkst, I have often thoiight tliat 

 such mindful kindness was well ]innrtrayed in the old poem : 



" On Christmas Eve tlie bells wore rung; 

 On Christmas Eve the ma,ss was sung. 

 Tills only night in all the year 

 Saw the stoled priest tlie chalice rear ; 

 The damsel donned her klrtlc aheeii— 

 The hall was dressed with holly green. 

 Forth to the woods did merry men go. 

 To gather In the misletoc. 

 Then opened wide the haron's holl. 

 To vassal, tenant, serf, and all." 



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