Biirntisland. 11 



of common fruit and vegetables, but the warmest 

 and best exposures were always devoted to flowers. 

 The garden next to the house was bounded on the 

 south by an ivy-covered wall hid by a row of old 

 elm trees, from whence a steep mossy bank descended 

 to a flat plot of grass with a gravel walk and flower 

 borders on each side, and a broad gravel walk ran 

 along the front of the house. My mother was fond 

 of flowers, and prided herself on her moss-roses, 

 which flourished luxuriantly on the front of the 

 house ; but my father, though a sailor, was an excel- 

 lent florist. He procured the finest bulbs and flower 

 seeds from Holland, and kept each kind in a 

 separate bed. 



The manners and customs of the people who 

 inhabited this pretty spot at that time were ex- 

 ceedingly primitive. 



Upon the death of any of the townspeople, a 

 man went abt5ut ringing a bell at the doors of the 

 friends and acquaintances of the person just dead, and, 

 after calling out " Oyez \" three times, he announced 

 the death which had occurred. This was still called 

 by the name of the Passing-bell, which in Catholic 

 times invited the prayers of the living for the 

 spirit just passed away. 



There was much sympathy and kindness shown 

 on these occasions ; friends always paid a visit of 



