16 GET A HEAD-GARDENER'S PLACE. 



worse he got ; for when he found things 

 done, he kept more away from his duty, till 

 things went back for want of help, and mat- 

 ters got yery unpleasant indeed. Just as 

 they were about the worst, I got another 

 place, and that all in a hurry. I'd often 

 wondered if ever I should better myself; 

 and just when I had least hope, I got what 

 I wanted, without asking. 



One day a friend of my master's was 

 walking round with him, and just as they 

 came where I was nailing some wall-trees, 

 the gentleman said, " I want a good gardener; 

 does your man know one ?" " There's one," 

 said the squire ; " you may have him, if you 

 like." A few words settled it, and I was to 

 go in a month upon trial. I don't know 

 what else my master said, but I did hear 

 him say, "He's a methodistical fellow, and 

 that'll just suit you." 



It was the fashion fifty years ago to call 

 any body a methodist that kept decent, and 

 didn't go to church. The methodists had 

 turned an old barn outside the village into 

 a meeting-house, and a good many poor peo- 

 ple used it, and very angry it made the par- 

 son and the gentry ; but they took an odd 



