UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 137 



may often be changed, and rendered more 

 Christian, merely by our forbearance." 



My uncle said he dwelt the longer upon this 

 important subject, because every other virtue, 

 he thinks, rests on self-control. 



19th. Well, dear Mamma, I have taken pos- 

 session of my garden ; and now I hope I shall 

 not grow tired of it, or disgrace myself by having 

 it ill kept. One part of it had been a little nursery 

 for rose trees, rhododendrons, and other flowering 

 shrubs. That, and the large bed near it, which 

 is rather moist, have become very weedy; but 

 the front beds, and the slope down to the brook, 

 are in very good order ; and when the annuals, 

 which are now in seed there, are removed, I shall 

 begin to dig. The moist bed is to be trenched ; 

 and as this is the best time for transplanting deci- 

 duous shrubs, as well as almost all plants, I shall 

 have plenty of work on my hands. I may have 

 as many shrubs as I please, and I am to have 

 advice from all these gardeners, particularly Mary, 

 who does every thing at the right season. She 

 has some nice cards, on which are written hints 

 of what is to be done in each month ; and, as 

 they hang in her room, I can easily see there 

 what I am to do : besides which, I intend to 

 read a little in their gardening books, that I may 

 understand what I am about. I look forward, 

 with great pleasure, to this new employment, 



N 3 



