WHAT I KNOW ABOUT GARDENING. 157 



nich, any morning during the October Fest, 

 is strewn with the empty beer-mugs. History 

 constantly repeats itself. There is a large crop 

 of moral reflections in my garden, which any- 

 body is at liberty to gather who passes this 

 way 



I have tried to get in anything that offered 

 temptation to sin. There would be no thieves if 

 there was nothing to steal ; and I suppose, in the 

 thieves' catechism, the provider is as bad as the 

 thief; and, probably, I am to blame for leaving 

 out a few winter-pears, which some predatory 

 boy carried off on Sunday. At first I was 

 angry, and said I should like to have caught 

 the urchin in the act ; but, on second thought, 

 I was glad I did not. The interview could not 

 have been pleasant. I should n't have known 

 what to do with him. The chances are, that 

 he would have escaped away with his pockets 

 full, and jibed at me from a safe distance. And, 



