GLEANINGS ON GARDENS. 81 



misfortunes? When was he indifferent in his 

 country's cause ? His heart was devoted to it ; 

 in his conversation he constantly wished for its 

 prosperity. When age had bent his body, and his 

 legs trembled under him, you have seen him mount to 

 the summit of a hill, and give lessons of experience 

 to the young husbandmen. His memory was the 

 faithful depository of observations, made during the 

 course of fourscore successive years, on the changes of 

 the several seasons. Such a tree, planted by his 

 hand in such a year, recalled to his memory the 

 favour or the wrath of heaven. He had by heart 

 what other men forget the fruitful harvests, the 

 deaths and legacies to the poor. He seemed to be 

 endowed with a prophetic spirit, and when he 

 meditated by the light of the moon, he knew with 

 what seeds to enrich his garden. The evening before 

 his death he said, * My children, I am drawing nigh 

 to that Being who is the author of all good, whom I 

 have always adored, and in whom I trust. To- 

 morrow prune your pear-trees, and at the setting of 

 the sun, bury me at the head of my grounds.' You 

 are now, children, going to place him there, and 

 ought to imitate his example ; but, before you inter 

 these white hairs, which have so long attracted 

 respect, behold with reverence his hardened hands ; 

 behold the honourable marks of his long labours." 



G 



