234 THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR FARM. 



further encouraged him by the promise of five shillings 

 if he bring her tame for our post-luncheon canters 

 again. 



Ah ! there now ! How jolly it is to hear the cock- 

 pheasant crow so comfortably to his patient spouse 

 upon her nest, a "courage, madame, courage," then 

 flapping his wings in triumphant anticipation of the 

 numerous brood he is soon to superintend ! We look out 

 at the window, and there the luxurious rascal is close 

 by, and he sees us, and just hides his gorgeous head 

 behind a plant, so we won't disturb him. We have a 

 snow-white pair shut up for laying ; but as yet we have 

 not been successful in obtaining any eggs. I hear old 

 Melon's voice shouting objurgation to the children. 

 The fact is, there run the little girls with their pet 

 lambs just along the standard roses, nipping the leaves 

 too frequently for his patience. In place of the lamb 

 that died I managed to obtain a mountaineer — ^black 

 with white ears, and a white tip to its tail, more like a 

 kitten than a young sheep. It was frightened and 

 troublesome at first : it has now come to " take its 

 bottle beautiful" I am informed, and will follow its 

 owner, if chaperoned by the elder-born Southdown pet. 

 Braxy has ceased to trouble my flock after their re- 

 moval to shorter grass on an old pasture, but I hear of 

 numerous losses about the neighbourhood. 



July, 1869. 

 I AM sadly afraid that we shall have very thin hay- 

 crops. I hope to mow next week, having got down a 

 new Wood's machine. This is the fifth mower I have 

 had. I bought one of Wood's some years since, when 

 they were first introduced into the country. It was a 



