GROWING INFIRMITIES. 341 



TO MISS TAYLOR. 



" Woodville, 25th April 1856. 



" If you wish to know about Uncle James, I am sorry to 

 say that he still continues very feeble, with an increase of 

 asthma, which makes locomotion, that is self-sustained or 

 pedestrian motion, so burdensome, that he has not been be- 

 yond his own gate for a couple of months, except in a cab. 



"God forbid I should complain, or be otherwise than 

 thankful, not only for the enjoyment resulting from the 

 more active exercises of days gone by, but for the many 

 bl< ssings and comforts by which I am still surrounded. 

 These asthmatic feelings come upon me now even in the 

 house, and when I am scarcely moving at all. AVhether 

 they will subside as the season improves, I know not. 

 Their approaches and increase have been very gradual and 

 long continued, and so it may be that they are destined to 

 increase. I hope I may be grateful in the one case, and 

 patient in the other. I am taking frequent drives now, 

 as I cannot walk beyond the garden boundaries, and even 

 within these my steps are few and slow. T'other day I 

 'put in' some mignonette seed with my own hands, but 

 had a chair beside me, and performed most of the work 

 sitting. A redbreast, which perhaps remembered me in a 

 more robust condition, seemed somewhat surprised at my 

 attitude and mode of working. Talking of gardening ; I 



