May 4. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
79 
case if clue means be taken to prevent undue evapor¬ 
ation. 
This important subject seems more likely to be called 
into exercise this season than for several past ones; an 
unusual dry spring seems not unlikely to be followed 
by a summer equally so, consequently, the watering-pot 
will bo olten seen, perhaps more so than prudence 
would suggest; it is, therefore, for this reason that I have 
now called attention to it, and will continue the subject 
next week, in so far as relates to the well-being of 
former crops; but in the moan time it would be advisable 
for our young friends to ascertain the full extent of the 
wants ot their trees and other crops, and, by collecting 
all their protecting material, endeavour to stem and 
meet the evil beioro it comes, rather than endeavour to 
cure it after it has made its appearance; and be sure to 
take advantage of dull days, to ' " " 
give the foliage 
good washing as often as you can, for the benefits 
conferred then are not less than that which the root 
derives, while the quantity of water required in the one 
case is but small compared with the other. This treat¬ 
ment also extends to established trees as well as newly- 
planted ones. Smaller things will bo treated of next 
week. j. Robson. 
THE SOLDIER AS HE OUGHT TO RE. 
By the Authoress of “ My Flowers .” 
Now for the British Soldier as he ought to be ! The fol¬ 
lowing narrative has been sent to the Editor by a kind 
correspondent, and well deserves a place in these pages. 
The original MS. is rather too long, and somewhat too 
minute tor a slight sketch, and I have, therefore, ventured 
to put it into my own words, that I may twirl it about 
m my own peculiar way. The matter is closely correct. 
Thomas Mills, the son of humble but industrious parents, 
is the subject of my sketch. He received from them not 
more than the simplest schooling, but what is abundantly 
better, right principles. When just of age, however, and 
probably not quite settled in them, he, with the headlong 
lolly of youth, thought to get over disappointed affections 
by rushing into the army, and he enlisted hastily into the 
th Regiment of Foot. In the course of a twelvemonth 
tins disappointment was happily forgotten by a union with 
the object of his attachment, who made him an excellent 
and industrious wife, accompanied him in most of his cam¬ 
paigns, and became the mother of seven children, who wore 
born in as many different parts of the world, and frequently 
“ under trying and peculiar circumstances, but Providence, 
as he says, always favoured and protected them.” 
He was very soon promoted to be a corporal, and shortly 
afterwards a sergeant; but this honorable position did not 
do. He was naturally humble in mind, and could not com¬ 
fortably command his former comrades. Punishments, too, 
were frequent and sovere, as they were then stationed in 
India, where the strictest discipline was obliged to be en¬ 
forced, and the floggings and executions went to his heart, 
having, in his new capacity, so much to do with them. 
Poor Mills fainted in spirit at all these dreadful scenes, 
when he was obliged to act a part, as well as witness them ; 
and, having no fondness for rank, he resolved to give it all 
up, ftnd sink quietly back into tho shade. With a good deal 
ol difficulty he gained leave to do so, and again returned to 
the sweets of what wc should call private life, in which he 
said he was much happier, and never once regretted the 
height from which he had himself steppod down. His 
pension, of course, is less than it would have been ; but it 
would have been too dearly paid for, considering all his 
feelings suffered; and surely enough is all that we require in 
the station where the Lord has placed us? I have myself 
known an instance of a private soldier rising more than once 
to be a commissioned officer, and, after each elevation, quit¬ 
ting his position and returning again to the ranks. It was in 
the last war, and his custom was always to make one of the 
forlorn hope, whenever and wherever it might be. This led to 
his rapid and repeated promotions; but he could not be happy 
among associates so much above him in birth and educa¬ 
tion, and he left them as soon as he had joined their mess. 
I believe people are never happy out of tho sphere in 
| which God has placed them. They may be gratified, and 
honouied, and all that; but they never grow in a strange 
I soil; they do not bloom luxuriantly—there is a worm nib- 
j b 1 lln 8 somewhere, or their roots do not expand freely— 
j they are never at case, and at home. 
| Mills served his country faithfully for twenty-four years, 
I in \eiy many climates. lie then quitted tho service with a 
pension and received through his commanding officer, in 
Her Majesty s name, “ a small sum of money, as a mark of 
respect for his long-tried character, and good conduct, he 
also having voluntarily served for a longer period than he 
I had any occasion to do.” 
Mills left his eldest son in the regiment wdien lie quitted 
it. Ibis young man had received a good, plain education, 
by the kindness of the officers, and is now corporal, and 
orderly clerk too, which preserves him from some of the 
hardships of such a climate and service as those of India, 
where the regiment is now stationed. A father’s good con¬ 
duct usually is a provision for a child—a blessing rests upon 
it, and waters the young seedling by his side. How needful 
is it, that even for the low, short-lived season of worldly 
advantage, a parent should walk uprightly ! It creates an 
interest for his child, and sometimes procures benefits that 
the father never could obtain for him. This young man is 
enabled to write to his parents; his letters are affectionate 
and interesting : noticing providential circumstances in his 
life, and “ generally concluding with some pious wish, or 
asking a blessing." He was at the storming of Moultan (a 
fortress in India), and sent home an excellent description 
of that severe engagement to his parents, with an order for 
part of his pay. And here I would strongly press upon 
young men, when absent from home, whether they are high 
or low, the importance of writing to their parents. Nothing 
is more agonizing to them than waiting, and watching, and 
weeping for letters from their absent ones: and a dutiful 
and affectionate son may be little aware of the pangs he is 
giving, without any intention of doing so, by not writing 
home whenever he can. Nothing should interfere with this 
duty. I speak the more earnestly, because I have seen the 
wretchedness of month after month of hope deferred, and 
the sickness of heart, and the broken-down spirit that per¬ 
tains to it. Young Mills wrote, and he sent his picture 
besides; and there were two stripes on the sleeve of his 
uniform, and two medals shining on the breast ! Every 
British mother will understand the feelings of Mrs. Mills 
when these proofs of her son’s affection, bravery, and good 
conduct met her eye! The Sergeant, too, more proud of 
his son’s distinctions than of his own ! Oh, what power for 
weal or woe children possess if they did but understand it! 
How they often trifle with the happiness of those that love 
them, and dash down hopes to the ground ! Perhaps this 
sketch may some day meet the eye of this dutiful son. If 
so, his heart will, I trust, throb with gratitude to the Lord, 
who has caused him to differ from wild and thoughtless 
youths, who have caused needless tears, and perhaps heaped 
bitter sorrows on their own heads. 
I find I have rambled off from one subject to another, 
with somewhat of woman’s permitted waywardness. I 
began with the father, and have ended with the son, so that 
I cannot finish my sketch of the “ Soldier as he should bo,” 
ijuitc, until my next paper. I have, however, said enough 
to make many a heart rejoice for the honour of the British 
army, old and young ; and let old and young strive to follow 
their steps, for all may do so, if they will. 
At the same time, let us remember that duty to our 
parents and our country, or to any earthly tie, is but half, 
and the second half too, of our spiritual work. Our great 
Father, our great king, our great country, our great concern I 
of all, make up the “ one thing needful.” We may do all j 
for earth, and yet do nothing for heaven. We may fulfil 1 
every single earthly duty, and yet in no way “serve the 
Lord Christ.” This is a frightful thought. May it quicken 
us to look well and closely into our hearts, for with the 
fairest outward appearances a mistake in this matter may 
be fatal. We may be “ soldiers as we ought to be,” and yet 
professing Christians “ as we ought not to'be.” Needful is I 
it, beyond all that we can imagine, that we should “ examine , 
