July 10.] 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 
231 
OUR VILLAGERS. 
By the Authoress of “ My Flowers," tic. 
The farmer wlio rented the land which Farmer Steady 
now occupies is a very different character-, and it may he 
useful to sketch his history, and observe the results of his 
way of bringing up his son, and the sad and fatal conse¬ 
quences of evil doing, both to himself, and those connected 
with him. It is an old, common saying, that “ a man’s sin 
will always find him out;” and it is very true, scripturally 
true, that whenever we commit sin, the wrath of God will 
fall upon us. 
Farmer Wilful was an industrious, pains-taking man from 
his youth, and by no means trying to appear a gentleman, 
and he is still a capital farmer of the old school,—his land 
always looked like a garden ; and he was a contented man, 
as regarded weather, never complaining or vexing him¬ 
self about losses, when he had done his best, or rain or 
drought injured him. He was also a good master, paying 
his people regularly, and always on Friday nights, that their 
wives might lay out the money on Saturday, instead of 
having to go to the shop late at night, or being tempted to 
break the sabbath. He was also a regular attendant at 
church, and his wife and children were the same. All this 
was well; yet there was “ one thing ” lacking, and that one 
thing ruined him. 
Faxmer Wilful had three sons. The eldest was his more 
peculiar chai’ge, and lie brought him up in his own way; the 
two younger ones were given up to their sensible, right- 
minded mother. 
John, the eldest, was allowed to grow up in a way that is 
never right, even for gentlemen. He was allowed to amuse 
himself as lie liked,—to hunt and shoot, and waste his pre¬ 
cious time in unprofitable amusements, instead of following 
the plough, and gaining an honest livelihood. His two 
brothers were busy on the farm; but he was a “gentleman,” 
and did only what he liked to do. Farmer Wilful was a 
man of money, which he had carefully made; he rented two 
contiguous farms,—one of them of considerable extent; and 
when his eldest son choose to “ settle,” he rented another 
property at T1000 a year, and placed him in it. 
In the meantime, the mother was bringing up her younger 
sons in a different manner. Her little savings enabled her 
to set apart T20 for each of them, with which they began to 
traffic in sheep ; and, having no idle propensities, they went 
quietly on, until, in the course of time, when each wished to 
settle in life, they had made more than .£1200 apiece. Their 
fondness for their mother was great. Her domestic trials 
were heavy, but they both stood by her, and strove to 
show their sense of what she had done for them. 
Farmer Wilful’s day of prosperity closed sooner than he 
expected. His eldest son’s extravagance, in a few years, led 
to his ruin; and, to save himself from prison, he made all 
his effects over to his father, and cheated his creditors, of 
course. This was the beginning of evils. He became de¬ 
pendant upon his parents, with a wife and several children; 
could do nothing for his own support, because no one would 
trust him, indulged in a mode of life far beyond what 
his father, who had already suffered through him, could 
meet, and was at length obliged to live as poorly as the 
labourers he formerly employed. Farmer Wilful’s affairs 
' grew worse and worse. He was a man whom no one liked 
or spoke well of, and he met, therefore, with little sympathy 
in his distress. Such nefarious transactions came to 
light, that his landlord would not suffer him to retain his 
farm, and he quitted it under great disgrace. In fact, he 
became a bankrupt; and has since become, to use his 
afflicted wife's expression, “ the servant of his son,” of one 
of the younger sons, whose little property arose from his 
mother’s prudence, and who has now placed his father in a 
small farm to manage it for him. 
There was no fear of God before the eyes of Farmer 
Wilful. He kept up appearances well, but the “ heart set 
bright” was not within him. At the very best of times, when 
lie was a thriving man,-his face was against him,—it was 
heavy, sour, and sullen ; it betokened nq comfort nor 
peace; and he looked as if he would rend any one who 
offended him. If people were civil to him, and treated hint 
well, he would treat them well in return, but there it ended. 
Now, this is not scriptural conduct; it does not spring from 
a scriptural root, and brings no blessing in its train. To 
obey the scriptural precept, we must love those who do not 
love us, and we must do good to those who do not always 
do good to us. If we only gratify our own feelings, and do 
kindly or unkindly according to our neighbour’s deserts, 
“ do not even the Publicans the same ? ” 
Farmer Wilful always looked sullen and unhappy. When 
a man is not walking with God, he cannot be happy, and, 
therefore, cannot look so. Some persons have pleasanter 
countenances than others, better features, and milder tem¬ 
pers ; but look closely into them, study them, and there is, 
beneath the smile, an uneasy, anxious expression, which 
cannot be mistaken, and which speaks of inward care. The 
world is so unsatisfying in its very kindest words, that 
unless we have “ a good hope through grace ” of better 
things to come, it is impossible to find the commonest peace 
of mind. 
The contrast between the past and present tenant is very 
striking. The one dark, and stern, and sad; the other open, 
and bland, and happy, with a kindly word for all, and a 
kindly will besides. The latter sits peacefully and thankfully 
among his steady, middle-aged sons and daughters, all 
smiling round him, the very picture of green old age. No 
sounds are ever heard about the homestead, but those of 
lawful labour; and the only disturbance arises from rats 
and a peacock, whose glittering throat is stretched out to 
dart at the poor little chickens, whenever he can catch them 
in a sly way. These are the simple troubles of this peaceful 
family. The quiet, honoured sabbath closes with “ psalms, 
and hymns, and spiritual songs,” and the labours of the 
busy week seem to be greatly blessed. How different from 
the days of Farmer Wilful and his ruined son! 
I have given my readers a second glance through the 
casement that nestles among thick, rich ivy, but I am sure 
they will not be displeased. Honest English comfort shines 
brightly and pleasantly among her honourable agriculturists; 
and all who follow the example of good Farmer Steady, and 
avoid the evils into which Farmer Wilful fell, will have great 
cause to sing hymns of praise to Him who has preserved 
them from many sorrows, and caused them to lie down and 
rise up in peace. 
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY’S EXHIBITION, 
REGENT’S PARK, June 11th. 
As this exhibition followed so closely upon that at Chis¬ 
wick, as might be expected, most of the plants were the 
same as were exhibited there ; but some additions were 
necessary, because the grand collection, both of orchids and 
miscellaneous plants, was larger than at Chiswick. For 
instance, the large collection of orchids was increased from 
20 at Chiswick to 25 at the Park; and the large collections 
of miscellaneous plants were increased from 20 at Chis¬ 
wick to 30 at the Park. These additions, with some little 
changes, will be the extent of our report. Our readers must 
remember that, though not mentioned here, the fine plants 
described in our report of the Chiswick exhibition the 
Saturday before, were present here also. 
ORCHIDACEOUS PLANTS. 
Ten collections, containing 170 plants. 
Prizes. —Collections of 25 : first, Mr. My lam ; second, Mr. 
Frau/din, gardener to Mrs. Lawrence ; and an equal prize 
to Mr. Williams, gardener to C. B. Warner, Esq., Hoddesden. 
Collections of 20 (Nurserymen): first, Messrs. Veitcli and 
Son, Exeter ; second, scarcely inferior, Messrs. Rollison, 
Tooting. Collection of 15 : first (the only competitor), Mr. 
Blake, gardener tp J. Sehroeder, Esq., Stratford. Collec¬ 
tions of 10: first, Mr. Barnes, gardener to R. Hanbury, Esq., 
