134 the lady's country companion. 



REVIEW. 



The Lady's Country Companion, or, How to enjoy a Country Life 

 rationally. By Mrs. Loudon, author of " Gardening for Ladies, 

 fyc." With an Engraving on Steel, and Illustrations on Wood. 

 London, Longman and Co., 1S45. 



This is a very interesting addition to the previous useful and pleas- 

 ing publications which have been sent forth to the ladies of our 

 country by Mrs. Loudon, and which we very cordially recommend 

 to our readers upon its own merits, and additionally so, as the pro- 

 curing of' it will be an act of benevolence, by contributing towards 

 the support of the author and family of our late valuable and much 

 respected friend, J. C. Loudon, Esq. 



The volume is divided into six Books, or Parts. The first is, 

 The House ; the second, The Garden ; the third, Domestic Animals; 

 the fourth, Sural Walks; the fifth, Country Amusements; the 

 sixth, Country Duties. The volume is 12mo, and contains 396 

 pages. Each subject is treated upon in a Letter. Of course we are 

 best acquainted with the gardening subjects which are treated upon. 

 The following extract (Letter 1) will give our readers a fair specimen 

 how each particular subject is treated : — 



" It gives me great pain, my dear Annie, to find that you still 

 think that you shall never like the country so well as town. I do 

 not, however, despair; for I am convinced that you do not at present 

 know whether you shall like it or not. The pleasures of the town 

 and the country are, indeed, so different, that it requires some time 

 to become accustomed to the change; but when you are sufficiently 

 well acquainted with country pursuits to take an interest in them, 

 I am sure you will never feel any want of the pleasures of the town. 

 The great secret of being happy is, to be able to occupy ourselves 

 with the objects around us, so as to feel an interest in watching their 

 changes ; and, when you can once do this in your present situation, 

 you will no longer complain of dulness or want of excitement. To 

 be convinced of the truth of what I say, you need only remember the 

 pleasure your friend Mrs. P. C. takes in the cultivation of her garden ; 

 the interest with which she watches the opening of her flowers, the 

 coming up of the seeds she has sown, and the growth of the trees she 

 has planted. It is not the positive beauty of these things that 



