THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 18. 
extreme mixtures are not always good ; and as plants 
; me found on all positions, tlie nearer wo approach to 
; tlie one of wliicli the specimen in <[uestion may bo a 
' native, the more likely are our efforts to bo crowned 
! with success. J. Robson. 
CONSEQUENCES. 
By the AuHwrcss of My Flowers.’' 
{Continued from poye 
It reqiiiivs iiiuch grace in the heart to justify the Lord in 
ill! his dealings with us ; to consent to His dispensations be¬ 
cause tliey are “ very good,” instead of submitting to them 
because they are stronger tlian we, or because it is of no use 
to light against God. It is a great attainment, even in tlie 
life of a true believer, to be able from the heart to say, “I 
know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou 
in faithfulness hast alllicted me.” Those who neither 
possess or iirofess lively faith are, nevertheless, sometimes 
constrained to confess that alt things have worked together for 
their good, though they considered not how, nor wliy. And 
have we not ourselves, reader, often looked back upon trying 
times, when the sun shines again, and feel that we had 
much happiness, even while the trial lasted ? and sometimes 
even sigh for the days W’o once struggled through and 
mourned over ? 
Mr. and Mrs. Grosvenor formed one or twm very valuable 
acquaintances during their retirement among the wild 
Welsh rocks, which tliey might not have done under other 
circumstances. People of small means live so entirely out 
of sight, that, until privation compels us to nestle into holes 
and corners too, we do not lind them out. They may have 
lived next door, or in a neighbouring lane or village, and we 
know nothing of them; but many a gem sparkles in dark 
places, and this Mr. and ]\lrs. Grosvenor soon found. 
The little snug tea-drinkings that take place among the 
like-minded and the like-situated ; the little, cheaii, home¬ 
made dainties, placed before kind and admiring eyes ; and 
the simple, friendly reciprocities of cottage life, among 
jieople of gentle blood, but empty coffers, iiossess more real 
charms than are dreamed of by those who have plenty of 
money, plenty of servants, and nothing to do. 
The occasional * excursion from the village on the hill, 
oveilooking the bright bay, the rocky inlets, the old ruined 
castle, and the tleet of fishing boats, to the village on the 
margin of the sea, beneath towering rocks, with the waves 
w'ashing cwster shells nearly to the doors, and the hoarse 
voices of the tishermen giving life to the scene, as they 
sprang in and out of their heaving vessels, hoisting or 
lowering their sails, and uttering the sea-cries which lands¬ 
men cannot learn—wms very pleasant in soft summer 
evenings. The moonlight walk home was safe, tho\igh 
steep ; and, but for the sins and intirmities of the natural 
lieart, there seemed no cause for trouble or anxiety in this 
(juiet and unpretending mode of life. The absence of 
temptation was a groat protection to Mrs. Grosvenor. Her 
husband w'as removed from all scenes and companionship 
that had powerful influence over him ; and only when he 
rode into town, and contrived to have business with the wane 
jiicrchant, were her fears aroused. 
The most terrible of all trials connected with her husband, 
iMrs. Grosvenor seemed to jiass lightly by, except when it 
becamo the subject of conversation with others. His Soci- 
nian views were fearful, when exposed to the light; but they 
did not appear to interfere with domestic comfort. Nothing 
was said or done to call them forth. Alas! w'hat a picture 
of connubial life! llcligion, of course, was a subject 
banished from their discourse together; neither prayer or 
praise could .ascend IVom their hearth, to bring peace and 
a blessing from on high ; and how any two persons can live 
together contentedly, in total abstinence from religious 
observances and influences, it is difficult in a Christian land 
lo conceive. 1 do not mean to convey the impression that 
jMrs. Grosvenor disregarded Sahbalh worship—far from it. 
rtlr. Grosvenor also accompanied his wife occasionally to 
I church, but without distress and contention no social 
I devotion could be kept up, nor could conversation be 
I seasoned and sanctified bv' religious affections, or reference 
to Him without whom we “have not the Father,” conse¬ 
quently our immortal part is dead in the sight of God. To 
be content under such a dispensation is an awful position. 
Mrs. Grosvenor married in very early youth, and asked no 
([uestions. She loved the man, and took him “ for better, 
for worse,” without any thought beyond personal affection ; 
but w'hen perception came, and she found the man she had 
bound herself to with indissoluble bonds was one who knew 
not God ; without hoite in the world, except that blind, and 
ignorant, and groping hope, which neither sanctifies nor 
satisfies—to sit dowm (juietly under such a perception seems 
almost impossible ! and makes us shudder as we reflect. 
Mrs. Grosvenor, when in company, must have dreaded any 
topic bearing upon serious subjects. General society, alas ! 
is seldom the place where religion is outwardly acknow¬ 
ledged ; but, in family and domestic circles, opportunities 
arise for enemies to blaspheme; and, unhappily, those in 
error are frequently more valiant for the lie, than many of 
their neighbours are for the truth. Sometimes Mrs. 
Grosvenor would sit. trejubling and horror-struck at the 
awful opinions uttered by her husband, when disputing upon 
Scri])tural things. Oh! that her situation may be a beacon 
to other young and thoughtless women, who know not what 
wretchedness and peril of soul they are dashing into, when 
they take the first otter made them, and bind themselves for 
a long and dreary life to they know not who or what. 
It is wonderful to see how unbelievers mock themselves. 
]\Ir. Grosvenor was a very ignorant man ; he had no power 
to reason or calmly consider a subject; and proof or persua¬ 
sion to such a mind were alike unavailing. Rut rejecting, 
as he did, the. truth and evidence of God's Word, yet he 
built his feeble sandhill upon it after all ! There was no 
spot of earth, even, for him to plant his wretched lever, but 
tlie AVord that abideth for ever ! The text which lie chose 
to support his unhappy opinions was this: “And what, O 
man, doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and 
love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God ?” This siinjile 
impossibility, witliout the strengthening power of Christ, and 
the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, was the ground¬ 
work of Mr. Grosvenor’s hopes, detached from every other 
liortion of God's AVord ; and without any attempt to practise 
the mighty rule laid down, did he blunder on through the 
datk mazes of infidelity, and the turbulent vicissitudes of 
this weary world. Amid the exquisite scenes of nature— 
the wild beauty of AA'^elsh hill and dale, and heath and grove, 
on the one side, and the umiuiet tossing of the sparkling 
waters on the other; with a heaven of glorious beauty and 
unutterable preciousness above his head—did this unhappy 
man “ stumble upon the dark mountains,” without chart, or 
compass, or landmark to direct him, and not even one ray 
of hope to cast upon and cheer his w'ay. The simjile and 
peaceful cottage, the kindly offices to the poor around them, 
the snug fireside, the friendly associations, and the com¬ 
parative absence of wordly disagreeables, were all marred, 
and cankered, and defaced, by that one sad conviction and 
horrible fact, that beneath that roof, and amid those 
pleasures and usefulnesses, there dwelt an unbeliever, 
{To be continued.) 
D IOSCO RE A BATATAS. 
I The experience we have had here of the cultivation of 
i Bioseoren Batatas does not correspond with the results of 
' “C. R. S.” A tuber of it, the size of a fine Slarrowl'at I’ea, 
I W'as planted in April, in a pot, and was afterwards shifted in a 
I 21-pot, and kept in the greenhouse. The ju'oduct resulting 
from this treatment was two tubers, averaging three-inches- 
and-a-half in length by three in circumference, both of 
) which were formed at the bottom of the pot, and raising uii 
the drainage in their growth. They w'ere united together 
just under the surface of the soil by a large under-ground 
stem, apparently full of eyes, attached to each. Did not 
the produce equal that of a Totato of a similar size when 
l)lanted ? 
I Some tubers were also planted in the open air, or mounds 
of Well-prepared mould. On examination, a similar under¬ 
ground stern was traced to the distance of about fifteen 
inches; but an unlucky pull detached it, and no trace of 
