CHAP. III.] - CABBAGES. . 221 



fore, in giving opinions about times, to speak of 

 seasons, and not of months and days. The 

 country people, in England, go, to this day, 

 many of them, at least, by the tides; and, what 

 is supremely ridiculous, they go, in some cases, 

 by the moveable tides. My gardener, at Botley, 

 very reluctantly obeyed me, one year, in sow 

 ing green Kale when I ordered him to do it, 

 because Whitsuntide was not come, and that, 

 he said, was the proper season. " But," said I, 

 " Robinson, Whitsuntide comes later this year 

 " than it did last year." " Later, Sir," said he, 

 " how can that be?" " Because," said I, " it 

 " depends upon the moon when Whitsuntide 

 " shall come." " The moon!" said he : ".what 

 " sense can there be in that?" " Nay," said I, 

 " I am sure 1 cannot tell. That is a matter 

 " far beyond my learning. Go and ask Mr. 

 " BAKER, the Parson, He ought to be able to 

 " tell us ; for he has a tenth part of our gar- 

 " den stuff and fruit." The Quakers here cast 

 all this rubbish away; and, one wonders 

 how it can possibly be still cherished by any 

 portion of an enlightened people. But, the 

 truth is, that men do not think for themselves 

 about these matters. Each succeeding gene 

 ration tread in the steps of their fathers, whom 

 they loved, honoured and obeyed. They, take 

 all upon trust. Gladly save themselves the 



