A DOMESTIC COLONY. 
793 
there must be many, veiy many of the respectable classes of society, 
who, like my friend the patriarch of "the colony," find a difficulty 
in placing their sons in situations with even slender expectations of 
their ultimate benefit. Many too, from losses in trade, are rendered 
unable to advance a sum of money for an apprenticeship in a respec- 
table business. What then is to become of the children ? Must a 
fine spirited boy, brought up in respectability, well educated, good 
principled, of gentle nature, and inclined to literaiy pursuits, must 
such a lad, finding no scope for his abilities, no opening, no refuge 
among congenial spirits, must he become a mere mechanical drudge, 
a ticket porter, perhaps an ostler, a slave of slaves ? Yet thus doubt- 
less have the fond hopes of parents been blighted ! reared in abun- 
dance themselves, trade flourishing, youth and health, and joyous life 
before a married couple, who shall blame them because they possess 
not omniscience to foresee that trade will fail, that children will in- 
crease as means decay, that doubt and fear, and poverty, will one day 
canker the hearts of such unfortunate parents, and rob their darling 
ofispring of their hoped for inheritance. But to my " colony," every 
circumstance of which I pledge myself is founded in fact. 
My friend, we will name him Mr. Castles, was the only child of 
wealthy and over indulgent parents. At their death he found him- 
self in a large and flourishing business. Competitors started, and its 
profits were diminished, he had married and was the father of several 
children, before his circumstances appeared to warrant uneasiness. 
Losses and crosses of various descriptions, accompanied by the 
strictest integrity of character, conspired to depress him ; he left 
London, and resided for some years in a distant county. His four 
sons were sent to school in the neighbourhood, and trade still decreas- 
ing, he felt it a duty to seek for a small freehold, on which he might 
reside with his numerous family, for whom no openings offered for 
placing them out in the world. With the last few hundreds of his 
available property, (assisted by a generous relative) he at length pur- 
chased a small homestead, within forty miles of London, the little 
property consisting of barely two acres. This is all, though true, 
too common and very common place, that which follows will be 
more interesting. Mr. C. is of an active and intelligent mind, and 
he wisely resolved, since funds had failed, that his sons should devote 
their time to improve and turn their little spot of earth to the best 
account. Fortunately the dispositions of the boys were docile, af- 
fectionate, and industrious, perhaps the result of precept and exam- 
ple. They were se,t vigorously to work on the neglected grounds ; 
