AM MADE UNDER-GARDENER. 15 



young man above me was gone into the 

 stable, and I was to have his place, and ten 

 shillings a-week, out of which I was to pay 

 one shilling and sixpence a week to the 

 widow for lodging and washing. This was 

 a fine lift for me in all ways ; for now I was 

 to work in the houses as well as the grounds. 

 Three months only I had in this place before 

 the under-gardener left, and I got his situa- 

 tion. And now I found the use of having 

 amused myself in reading and writing ; for 

 I had for a long time before put down every 

 night what I had seen done or done myself 

 in the day (though it was in a poor way of 

 writing to be sure), and this helped me won- 

 derfully. 



The head-gardener was a kind man, and 

 took as great pains to teach me as I did to 

 learn. He was no one's enemy but his own, 

 only in one way, and that was his example, 

 which was bad for others. He must have 

 had a good temper once ; bu his drinking 

 habits killed all his respect for himself, and 

 then he forgot his respect for others, and was 

 very violent to his under men. I was eight 

 years with him, and did all I could to keep 

 things straight ; but the more I did the 



