116 MUSTARD. [No. 



put into the grease ; soaked in it sufficiently ; then 

 taken out and laid in a bit of bark taken from a young 

 tree, so as not to be too large. This bark is fixed up 

 against the wall by a couple of straps put round it ; 

 and there it hangs for the purpose of holding the 

 rushes. 



196. The rushes are carried about in the hand; 

 but to sit by, to work by, or to go to bed by, they are 

 fixed in stands made for the purpose, some of which 

 are high to stand on the ground, and some low, to 

 stand on a table. These stands have an iron port 

 something like a pair of pliers to hold the rush in, 

 and the rush is shifted forward from time to time, as 

 it burns down to the thing that holds it. 



197. Now these rushes give a better light than a 

 common small dip-candle ; and they cost next to 

 nothing, though the labourer may with them have as 

 much light as he pleases, and though, without them 

 he must sit the far greater part of the winter evenings 

 in the dark, even if he expend fifteen shillings a year 

 in candles. You may do any sort of work by this 

 light; and, if reading be your taste, you may read the 

 foul libels, the lies and abuse, which are circulated 

 gratis about me by the " Society for promoting 

 Christian Knowledge," as well by rush-light, as you 

 can by the light of taxed candles ; and, at any rate, 

 you would have one evil less ; for to be deceived and 

 to pay a tax for the deception are a little too much 

 for even modern loyalty openly to demand. 



MUSTARD. 



198. WHY buy this, when you can grow it in your 

 garden ? The stuff you buy is A half drugs; and is 

 injurious to health. A yard square of ground, sown 

 with common Mustard, the crop of which you would 

 grind for use, in a little mustard-mill, as you wanted 

 it, would save you some money, and probably save 

 your life. Your mustard would look brown instead 

 of yellow; but the former colour is as good as the 

 latter : and, as to the taste, the real mustard has cer- 



