182 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 18. 
language and behaviour. On being questioned as to the 
conduct of this woman, he meekly said, “ her ways are not 
my ways; ” and he quietly awaited deliverance when the God 
whom he trusted should see fit. It came. A small cottage 
belonging to a neighbouring family was vacant, and he and 
his daughter were put into it rent free, to look after the 
untenanted house and garden to which it was attached. 
This was a special blessing to poor old Hopkins, and he 
remained for some years on the same spot, suffering many 
trials and wants, but in the midst of them all enjoying 
great consolations. He was speaking one day of his poverty, 
and the view he took of it was at once striking and 
affecting; “ The Lord knows my heart,” he said, “ better than 
I know it myself. He knows that I am not fit to be trasted 
with riches;” and in this humble, self-condemning spirit he 
justified the Lord’s dealings with him, and was still. What 
a lesson to all who may be disposed to murmur at their 
state of life ! 
When the house was let to which the cottage belonged, 
there was a poor prospect for the old man, because the new 
tenants wished for their own people to be near them, and he 
must therefore give up his little quiet home. At one time 
the Union stared him in the face, and here his heart failed 
him, for he had a strong repugnance to giving up his 
liberty, and submitting to restraint, however wholesome, in 
his latter days. But he trusted with simple confidence to 
an Arm that never fails, that ever bringeth salvation; and 
that Arm protected him. His daughter, an honest, hard¬ 
working creature, had been for a long time employed as 
laundress in a common way, by a neighbouring family, and 
at this time of difficulty, it was proposed to them to occupy 
two rooms over some outhouses, where they might, at any 
rate, live peacefully and rent free. The gladness of the 
poor old man was great at escaping from the dreaded Union, 
and he was soon quietly established in his new dwelling. 
Nothing could be more peaceful, and patient, and thankful, 
than poor old Hopkins in his lowly home. It screened him 
from the weather, and brought him into immediate contact 
with friends who could help him in sickness and sorrow, and 
do him little offices of kindness when opportunities occurred. 
It was really a haven of rest to the old man, after many 
buffettings. 
Not very long after he had settled himself a severe afflic¬ 
tion fell upon him. His daughter, after a week’s illness, 
died, and left him a real mourner, with the charge of a little 
girl, a heavy charge for a poor, old, crippled man. At first 
this blow almost stunned him, but the upward gaze of faith 
supported him, and he looked for help where it is ever to be 
found. His little granddaughter met with a situation in a 
tradesman’s family, who treat her as a daughter, and with 
whom she is doing well, and the peaceful days of old Hop¬ 
kins, in his little solitary chamber, are untroubled by any 
fear or anxiety on her account. He sits by his fireside in 
perfect peace, with the Book of Books open before him. Very 
seldom does any one break the silence of his life, but he says 
he does not know what it is to be lonely; he has no fear; 
he has One with him by day and by night who cheers his 
solitude, to whom he can tell his wants and wishes, who 
gives him all things that are good for him, preserves him 
from every danger, keeps him in perfect peace, visits him in 
the night season, and sweetens every pain. With such a 
friend, Hopkins is as rich a man as any in the land, and 
many a coronetted brow may envy the unbroken rest he 
finds on his hard pillow. He keeps his little room clean 
and in order; there is no one to make a litter and put him 
out of his way; he spends much of his time in the open 
air sweeping up leaves, and doing a few light jobs about the 
house, and in the evening the little white column of smoke 
that rises from his chimney speaks of a calm and cheerful 
evening hour. There he sits in a red woollen cap, and a 
rushlight on the table, but he can discourse upon things of 
wondrous import, and science may take a lesson from his lips. 
At this solemn period of the year, when we are again 
drawing near to the day on which the Son of God came “ to 
save his people from their sins," let us hear what an aged 
Christian can say about “ the things that belong unto our 
peace.” He can tell us that great is the faithfulness of the 
Lord, and the peace of him that keep his laws. He can 
tell us that “ the Lord knoweth the days of the upright, and 
their inheritance shall be for ever.” He can tell us that 
Jesus Christ is “ the bread of life : he that cometh unto him 
shall never hunger, and he that believeth in him shall never 
thirst.” He can tell us that this same Jesus “ hath an un¬ 
changeable priesthood, wherefore lie is able also to save 
them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing 
he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” 
Let us listen to the teaching of a humble servant of God, 
and follow his steps. We may never live to commemorate 
another nativity of Christ. Let the song of Angels echo 
through our hearts, and let us receive into our inmost souls 
the “good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.” 
Let us keep Christmas like Christians, and not with vain 
and idle mirth. Let it be to us all a time of spiritual joy 
and solemn thought. 
BRITISH FUNGI. 
No plants are so numerous, and none more interesting 
than the Fungi. In our British Flora they form by far 
the largest Natural Order, containing not only what are 
known as Truffles, Mushrooms, and Toadstools, but also in 
the lower groups what are termed Mouldiness, Mildew, Smut, 
Bust, Blight, and Dry-rot. Many are so minute as to be quite 
invisible to the naked eye, while others attain dimensions 
which in tropical climates have been taken at first sight for j 
crouching lions. So prolific are they, that one individual j 
of Reticularia maxima will produce 50,000,000, or more, 
spores (seeds) ; and so minute are the spores in some 
species as to be invisible to the naked eye, and so light as 
to float in the air like thin smoke. In subterranean species 
they (the spores) spread equally freely by being conveyed 
with the water that drains through the earth ; therefore 
their abundance and rapid dispersion are easily accounted 
for. Of their geographical distribution we know but little 
at present; and in extra-tropical countries they are so nu¬ 
merous that we cannot safely form an idea of the number 
that really exist. 
To the admirer of nature no plants are more interesting, 
nor can many rival them in beauty ; flourishing, as they do, 
when the gay flowers of summer have ceased to bloom, and 
dead leaves alone bestrew our pathway,—they then become a 
herald of approaching winter, which to the botanist is a 
second summer, for then our Cryptogamic plants are in 
perfection,—then it is that fungi surround us on all sides, 
forming objects truly worthy of our admiration, dazzling 
our eyes with their lovely hues (found, as they are, of every 
colour except pure green) and varied forms. Nor are their 
odours less variable, some being of a most offensive, others 
of a most delicate, perfume. 
Fungi thrive and produce their colours as well in dark¬ 
ness as in light, which is not the case with many other 
plants. In mines and caves, far from the light of day, 
many vegetate, covering the roof and walls, and producing a 
beautiful phosphorescent light, giving the beholder an idea 
of an enchanted castle. Beautiful and highly interesting as 
are the objects of which this order is composed, it has of 
late years been less studied in this country, with one or two 
exceptions, than any other branch of Cryptogamic plants. 
This neglect has, in a great measure, originated from the 
idea too prevalent, that it is almost (if not quite) impossible 
to dry and preserve them in a herbarium with other plants. 
This, however, is by no means the case, as many may, with 
a little care and practice, be dried (according to the plan 
adopted more especially for them, which is briefly explained 
in vol. v., part 2 of the English Flora) as readily as other 
Cryptogamic plants ; and experience will soon show be¬ 
ginners that they will produce specimens far more faithful 
than was ever anticipated. 
Fungi are important as man’s greatest friends and enemies, 
and are most worthy of our consideration under the follow¬ 
ing heads, namely—as scavengers of nature, decomposing 
and removing refuse matters, which, if allowed to remain on 
the surface of the earth, would be found useless incum¬ 
brances and injurious tenants. 
As parasites, they are destructive to the animals or plants 
on which they grow ; as poisons, to the careless and inex¬ 
perienced ; as valuable remedies to the medical profession ; 
and as food—supplying nearly the only nourishment, for a 
limited period, to thousands, and especially to the people of 
Russia. That the public, therefore, would derive much 
