202 THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR FARM. 



out of reach as he can. About fifteen of his flock, a 

 small sort selected and fed for the picking of himself 

 and friends, the mountain foxes took. Their remains 

 were found in the bog (a storehouse, usually of the 

 peasants methinks I have read, who I dare say on 

 occasions can imitate the depredation of his vulpine 

 majesty, even to the biting and tearing of the wool ! ). 

 His geese, also, a fine flock as they floated on the bay 

 and river, went too ! But, after all, he has an enjoyable 

 life in the wild West, which I should like much to 

 share if it were not for the family mill-stone. 



Our pet pheasants have, alas ! at length shown their 

 ingratitude, and joined the company of the covert-bred, 

 only occasionally coming at breakfast-time to the school- 

 room window. We are all in high glee expecting the 

 return from school shortly of our eldest boy, for whom 

 I bought a singularly clever galloway, fast as a thorough- 

 bred, and a rare jumper ; but most amazingly, I have 

 just found out that she has quite lately learnt a trick 

 of turning home occasionally, in which, if she be opposed, 

 she has a donkey-like habit of crushing you up against 

 the nearest wall or fence, as I found quite unexpectedly 

 to my cost the other day, having at this moment my 

 leg from knee to ankle all bruised and black. It seems 

 a stable-boy who exercised her, was in the habit of 

 yielding to her when she first began the bad habit, 

 until it has now become seriously confirmed. Spurs 

 she does not seem to mind, so that I am rather at a 

 nonplus. She was so wonderfully temperate and gentle 

 before this humour came. It is quite delightful to 

 behold how well the cattle and horses do upon the 

 chopped barley-sheddings and wheat-straw in their line 

 of extempore boxes, which we have run up for the 



