196 THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR FARM. 



not being worth a fig, I positively believe, if a strong 

 rat had charged them, although, of course, it would 

 have been heresy to say so), listeniDg quite earnestly, 

 as a bunny which had been marked in was heard 

 scurrying about the runs with the white ferret at his 

 heels. Then, when he did come out, and went rolling 

 over and over unhurt in the meshes of the loose net, I 

 thought our Benjamin's delight would kill him. Lest, 

 however, the chill evening air should give them cold, 

 they were hurried home. A neighbour having pre- 

 served these vermin a little too fondly, we shall have 

 some trouble in keeping them down. 



We had a narrow escape upon the river the other 

 day. It was blowing quite a gale of wind when I went 

 out sailing with a friend. The waves ran very high ; 

 but we did very well so long as we ran before them. 

 Having to row back, and there being no steersman, in 

 a very broad reach of the river, we shipped three great 

 seas in succession, and only just got to land in time to 

 bale her and prevent her sinking. Another day we 

 must weight the stern better. As we two men were 

 alone it did not matter. However, the next gale that 

 blows I shall enjoy upon the river. They don't come 

 too often. 



January f 1869. 

 Cider drinking, is it wholesome ? Bless me, to see 

 the rubbish — the absolute mud of decayed fruit that is 

 committed to the press in certain hope of a satisfactory 

 drink being produced ! Why, one has read and seen 

 how carefully, in the making of the best foreign wines, 

 each mildewed or decaying berry is sorted and picked 

 out before the juice is crushed — but oh ! to see the 



