THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR FARM. 83 



matutinal cold-bath is credited. Meanwhile, there 

 stood, calmly watching the operation, a young broad- 

 built son of our villaofe Yulcan, who has not seen his 

 sixth birthday yet, notwithstanding the chill rain -pour, 

 without a symptom of uneasiness. I almost think the 

 rain never pierced his raiment, scant as it was. The 

 soul of fire he inherits may possibly have helped his en- 

 durance, multiplying or neutralising — which you please 

 — the usual effect of a driving sleet-shower. Blessed 

 habit again, methought ! 



How deep again lies the vein of early attachment to 

 agricultural affairs.. This last week only I have spent 

 long happy fleeting hours in the company of one who 

 is now a distinguished dignitary of the Church of Eng- 

 land, and an earnest promoter of all that is good and 

 charitable. He can number seventy winters in the 

 snow upon his head ; yet there are few young members 

 of his profession who could outstrip him in energetic 

 beneficial service to his fellow-creatures. Now, in the 

 intervals of work, there is nothing he prefers by w^ay 

 of relaxation to a talk about shorthorns — a small, but 

 goodly herd of which he reared at the period when Mr. 

 Berry and Mr. Bates were at their zenith, his anecdotes 

 of conversation with w^hom are as entertaining as instruc- 

 tive ; as are also his comments upon the forefathers 

 of our stock — Belvedere, Pilot, &c., a small volume 

 of which I deemed it worth while to note down at his 

 lips. How delighted he was too to scan and discuss 

 the points of the type of cow that I have selected as 

 my model. 



I had with me a portfolio of clever and singularly 

 truthful sketches in oil, done by my friend, Mr. E. 

 Corbet, which I always carry about with me by way of 



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