UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 287 



take a part ; after dinner they put on silk gowns 

 and smart caps, and either go out to pay visits, 

 or stay at home to receive them. But we live in 

 such perfect solitude in these woods, that we 

 have no neighbours to go to, or to expect here. 

 We are going on as yet with smiling prospects, 

 and doing something every day that tends to 

 our comfort ; but we must be contented to ad- 

 vance very slowly. 



" In spite of every effort, my thoughts too 

 often turn to dear home and to former times, 

 or sometimes they take a far stretch forward ; but 

 these are only airy visions which I do not encou- 

 rage. Yet I cannot help praying that we may 

 be permitted to meet again in a few years. I 

 fear setting my heart too much on this, but I 

 trust to the support of Providence under every 

 disappointment, and under every trial. Trials 

 we must have in all places, still more in these 

 dreary w T oods." 



. I heard lately that several of those 

 greenhouse plants which are natives of swamps, 

 if planted in a pond, the bottom of which never 

 freezes, w r ould grow as well as if in their own 

 country : I have therefore asked permission to try 

 this experiment, and my aunt let me have a plant 

 of the long-leaved amaryllis, and one of the Ethi- 

 opian calla. We broke the pots they were in, 

 that the roots might not be disturbed, and then 



