322 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



" exclusive ; " and 

 gentle reader, 



promiscuous and dangerous manuals which 

 bring true religion into such contempt with 

 the multitude. Punning on the Scriptures 

 is a dangerous habit ; and the indiscriminate 

 promulgation of such absurdities as these, in 

 millions, cannot be too severely condemned. 

 The man, who no doubt faithfully discharged 

 the duties enjoined on him by his misguided 

 employers, appeared to be, as most of these 

 poor deceived creatures are, touched in his 

 intellects. He came like a shadow : so de- 

 parted. Shame, say we, be on those who 

 make tools of such men, and of this man in 

 particular. But we are now on the platform. 



Before entering the carriage which was to 

 convey us away from this sickening scene, 

 we could not help offering a passing observ- 

 ation (which we record here) on the large 

 trade in books done at railway stations gene- 

 rally, and of which here was a specimen. No 

 wonder certain booksellers should utter a 

 wild outcry at their changed prospects, when 

 these places have been converted into huge 

 emporiums of literature ! We blessed our 

 stars that we were an 

 took our seats. And now 

 behold us en route, and for a few short hours 

 turning our backs on this city of din, smoke, 

 noise, and hubbub. 



As we have before said, the sun was re- 

 joicing in his strength, diminished in its full 

 force by intermitting clouds, whose friendly 

 shadow secured all due warmth, without an 

 inconvenient heat. The train we travelled 

 by was a " slow coach;" so that we had 

 ample time to enjoy the gently-passing 

 scenery as we journied onwards. 



The road from London to Abbey Wood 

 is too well known to require any particular 

 comment. Passing through Charlton, on 

 either side of the road we observed or- 

 chards, gardens, woods, hill and dale, mea- 

 dow and valley; and in all were perceivable 

 the gradual progress of Spring — gradual 

 indeed ! Still there was a vernal freshness, 

 a delicious green on every tender herb and 

 spray, that rejoiced and feasted the behold- 

 er's eye. Now and then we noticed a bab- 

 bling stream or rivulet, meandering by ; 

 whilst in the distance, an occasional sheet 

 of water assisted in the development of a 

 charming landscape. These impressions 

 unlock the heart, and do the whole system 

 good. 



Arrived at Abbey Wood, we found the 

 omnibus awaiting us. Having deposited the 

 '' Chief" of our "Household gods 1 ' within, 

 we and our associate, being of sterner stuff, 

 took our seats immediately behind the 

 driver, without. The wind, though some- 

 what cold, was refreshing ; the sun shone 

 brightly, and the clouds lay in the most 

 picturesque of all imaginable forms, imme- 

 diately above us. " Imagination," then, can 



easily picture the scene on which we gazed, 

 as we ascended the steep hill before us. 

 Turning our heads round towards the river, 

 the expanse, so far as the eye could reach, 

 was charming indeed; for it embraced as 

 much river as land scenery, all richly varied 

 with Nature's fondest color — green. 



Passing the heath, which was luxuriantly 

 clothed in the most beautiful livery of green 

 and gold, we journied right pleasantly on- 

 wards, until we reached the main London 

 Road. We were agreeably entertained, 

 meanwhile, by the gossip of two pleasant 

 fellow-travellers, who, like ourselves, were 

 fond of the feathered tribe, and understood 

 much of their habits and peculiarities. From 

 one of these, we learned that two or three 

 cuckoos were shot by him at Worthing, just 

 before Christmas last, and that this bird 

 regularly wintered in that neighborhood. 

 A " pill," this, difficult of digestion with our 

 &oo&-naturalists, who will believe nothing 

 that is not registered in old editions of 

 musty books. One of these cuckoos, being 

 only struck by a single shot, was caged; 

 but it survived only five days. We also 

 gleaned some curious particulars of a black- 

 bird, who had been instructed by his fond 

 mistress to utter several distinct words, to 

 herself only. He lived, an idol of hers, for 

 more than twelve years. 1 his corroborated 

 a similar report that had reached our ears 

 in June last, and proves what is possible to 

 be done by unreserved affection. 



Nor was the driver deficient in contribut- 

 ing some curious information on ornitholo- 

 gical lore. He mentioned the name of a 

 lady, hard by, who had enjoyed the society 

 of a hedge chanter {Accentor modularis) 

 for more than twenty years ; and he de- 

 scribed to us many of this little chorister's 

 endearing ways. Thus may we occasionally 

 glean (even in the absence of books !) some- 

 thing that is not so despicable as the " closet 

 naturalists " would have us to believe. 



We will now conduct our reader, in idea, 

 along the main road (described in detail at 

 page 289), and at once introduce him to the 

 picturesque domain of Henry Wollaston, 

 Esq., situate in the delightfully-secluded 

 village of Welling, Kent. 



As we have already given a minute de- 

 scription of these grounds and surrounding 

 scenery, so peculiarly adapted, both by na- 

 ture and by art, for the domestication of 

 Canaries (and, let us add, to be considered 

 hereafter, of birds of all kinds) — we will now 

 proceed to notice the object of our visit at 

 this particular season; viz., to report the 

 progress of the birds in nidification, and 

 to note the natural hardiness of their con- 

 stitution. On this latter point, our mind 

 has long since been satisfied ; for we have 

 had canaries living in an aviary for years 



