82 GLEANINGS ON GARDENS. 



The orator then held up one of his cold hands ; it had 

 acquired twice the usual size by continual labour, and 

 seemed to be invulnerable to the point of the briar, or 

 the edges of the flint ; he then respectfully kissed the 

 hand, and all the company followed his example. His 

 children bore him to the grave on three sheaves of 

 corn, and buried him as he had desired, placing on 

 his grave his hedging-bill, his spade, and a plough- 

 share. " Ah ! " I cried, " if those men, celebrated 

 by Bossuet, Flechier, Mascaron, and Neuville, had the 

 hundredth part of the virtue of this villager, I would 

 pardon them their pompous and futile eloquence." ' 



