196 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



candle every evening, which, in their blowing open 

 rooms, does not burn much more than two hours. Thus 

 have they only two hours' light for their money instead 

 of eleven. 



While on the subject of rural oeconomy, it may not be 

 improper to mention a pretty implement of housewifery 

 that we have seen no where else ; that is, little neat 

 besoms which our foresters make from the stalk of the 

 polytricum commune, or great golden maiden-hair, which 

 ihey call silk-wood, and find plenty in the bogs. When 

 this moss is well combed and dressed, and divested of 

 its outer skin, it becomes of a beautiful bright chestnut 

 colour ; and, being soft and pliant, is very proper for the 

 dusting of beds, curtains, carpets, hangings, etc. If 

 these besoms were known to the brushmakers in town, 

 it is probable they might come much in use for the 

 purpose above-mentioned.* 



I am, etc. 



LETTER XXVII 



Selborne, December 12, 1775. 

 Dear Sir, 



We had in this village more than twenty years ago are 

 idiot-boy, whom I well remember, who, from a child, 

 showed a strong propensity to bees ; they were his food,, 

 his amusement, his sole object. And as people of this 

 cast have seldom more than one point in view, so this 

 lad exerted all his few faculties on this one pursuit. In 

 the winter he dosed away his time, within his father's 

 house, by the fire-side, in a kind of torpid state, seldom 



• A besom of this sort is to be seen in Sir Ashton Lever's Museum. 



