54 6 APPENDIX. 



told him that things were always on the change here below ; and 

 that if / had philosophy to jog on, and submit to common occur- 

 rences, I did not see why he should take the change so much to 

 heart. As I said this, he started up and bolted out of the window. 

 As he was leaving me, I think I heard him say, " My duty to them : * 

 but I am not quite certain of this ; for the wind was roaring from the 

 north at the time, and my ear next to him was somewhat deaf. Be- 

 lieve me, my dear sisters, your ever affectionate brother, 



CHARLES WATERTON. 



To Miss Helen Edmonstone. 



WALTON HALL, March 27, 1846. 



My dear Helen, Edmund is quite well, and Tommy Pussy the 

 same. A night or two ago, Tommy was lying at my feet and sud- 

 denly got up and stretched himself. " What now, Tommy ? " said 

 I. He said there was no standing the want of a bit of meat ; he 

 didn't like this bread and tea work ; and off he started. In half an 

 hour, he came in at the window with a fine, half-grown rabbit, and 

 laid it at my feet. There seems to be a great misunderstanding 

 between Mary Day and the carrion crows. She gets no duck eggs, 

 and she accuses them of thieving ; and the crows say they must live. 

 I think they say right. I have allowed the rooks to build here this 

 year, and there are plenty of nests. The garden is beautifully finished. 

 We have made three new asparagus beds. 



To tJie Same. 



My dear Helen, As Edmund has told you all the news, I have 

 nothing to add on that score, except that Mrs Bennet, the rumpless 

 fowl, has begun to crow ; and old Ogden begs to have her throat 

 cut, as he is sure she will bring bad luck. Our Helen has received 

 Eliza's letter, and we are glad to find that you are coming home. 

 Indeed it is very prudent in you to come southward, and thus escape 

 being frost-bitten in the icy regions. Some people can afford to 

 lose a bit of nose j others again cannot. However, it will be the 

 safest plan to get away as quick as you can from those dreary 



