

GLEAMS OF LIGtifr > ' id* 



blood of the country, the hope and stay of 

 Great Britain. Here was opened a chance 

 such as comes to few. If it had been properly 

 followed up, if it had fallen to a practical man, 

 there would have been perceived here an open 

 door leading to an honourable career, a safe 

 line, with a sufficient income. I mean that 

 any of our great newspapers would have been 

 glad to number on its staff, and to retain, one 

 who could write with knowledge on things 

 agricultural. Always, throughout the whole 

 of his life, Richard Jefferies wanted someone 

 to advise him, but never so much as at; this 

 moment. He had this splendid chance, and 

 he threw it away, not deliberately, but from 

 ignorance and want of aptitude in business. 



Yet the letters mark a new departure, for 

 they made him write about the country. 

 Success was before him at last, though not 

 in the way he hoped. 



The first letter to the Times was, for a 

 young man of twenty-four, a most remarkable 

 production. It was crammed with facts and 

 information. In point of style it was clear 

 and strong, without any faults of fine writing. 



