A JOURNAL KEPT IN THE COUNTRY. 185 



Miss, I won't promise as I'll come myself; but if I 

 can't, I'll be sure to send. You can have as many 

 as you like, and welcome to 'em, I'm sure." 



This was a little bewildering, and suggested the 

 black art, in keeping with Mrs. Heasman's witch- 

 face, the black tom-cat on the hearthrug, and an 

 indubitable broomstick behind the door. Next 

 morning appeared the witch's familiar in the form 

 of little Jimmy Batchelor, carrying a basket of eggs : 

 "the settin' of the Plymouth Rocks as you asked 

 for, Miss ; an' Granma says as how she'll be willin' 

 to change any as don't hetch." 



The moral of this is that we should use the 

 vernacular in dealing with the cottagers. I have 

 seen dire havoc wrought in the garden by my 

 failing to think out the relative values of " edges " 

 and "hedges," in an order for retrenchment given 

 to Bish ; and I shall never forget the sardonic 

 twisting of one corner of his mouth that does 

 duty for a smile when, confusing the inter-relation 

 of the aspirate and its negative, I once told him 

 to furnish some pea-rows with twigs at the bottom, 

 so that they could get hold quickly. With a 

 fine sarcasm, he remarked that most people found 

 their peas get hold quick enough of theirselves, he 

 reckoned. 



