302 THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR FARM. 



Reflection No. 5. In unconscious reproof of my 

 hard-hearted parental reasoning and declaration, a little 

 girl has just brought in some slices of an orange from 

 the green-house, with a whole plateful of brown sugar 

 to modify its " bitter taste." It so happened that 

 our one tree bore fruit in the exact number that our 

 children are. They had, consequently, one each pre- 

 sented to them by Mr. Melon, and reserved until the 

 last week of the holidays for enjoyment. How often 

 we tell and try to convince our labourers that much 

 more really happy their condition is than ours, the em- 

 ployers; for the many reasons that they have com- 

 paratively but few anxieties, so long as they conduct 

 themselves well, so much being provided for them in 

 the way of help over and above their wages in the 

 shape of clothes, fuel, medicine, &c., while the larger 

 their family the more pay they receive : in due course, 

 moreover, each member, as he or she grows up, dropping 

 over the nest to find an independent occupation and 

 sustenance, and even furnishing retributive help to the 

 parents, when their heart is in the right place. " Better 

 is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and 

 hatred therewith," are words of wisdom which often 

 recur to us as we watch the soil-stained labourer seated 

 by his fire-side with the little ones clustering around 

 his knee, on which some more fortunate one has been 

 able to secure his triumphant perch, and the mother is 

 cooking the potatoes and cabbage for supper just 

 flavoured with dripping or a bit of " pig meat." A crust 

 and watercresses for luncheon, Avith a draught from the 

 spring, affords more real refreshment (leaving no bilious 

 wretched results), than oftentimes the venison haunch 

 with turtle soup and crusted port do. This reflection 



