BIRDS' NESTS. 147 



with blossom,, and showing that the soil was 

 productive enough; but the ground had not 

 been turned since last year's crops were taken 

 off; a few broken sticks yet standing in a row, 

 showed where there had once been kidney- 

 beans ; and a cabbage-stump here and there, 

 trodden down into the mud, supplied the place 

 of the young plants which ought at this season 

 to have been beginning to supply the family 

 with vegetables. The wicket gate had lost 

 one of its hinges, and hung half open ; and on 

 each side of the house there was a broad gap 

 in the hedge, clearly proving that any one 

 going to or from the house saved himself the 

 trouble of opening the rickety gate by passing 

 through the gap either to the right or left, just 

 as he happened to be going up or down the 

 hill. Just in front of the door was a pit, 

 filled by the heavy rain of the previous day 

 with water, which five minutes' work with 

 a spade or hoe would have drained off. A 

 flat stone in the door-way was so loose, that, 

 L-2 



