JAN 23 1895 
4 84 6 9 
TO OUR READERS. 
Every seventh year is said to be an eventful year in the life of periodicals as well 
as of man, and our seventh year, now closed, sustains that saying born of experience. 
It has been an eventful year with us. Disasters have befallen the ship’s Agents 
the barque has partly changed owners—but the same crew remains, and the same 
hand is on the helm, with a friendly helmsman by his side to aid, to relieve, 
and to strengthen. A little rival craft has also been broken up, and its crew, 
partly drafted from us in former days, have now rejoined their former messmates, 
and their flag is united with our own. 
We add, fearless of contradiction, that all these changes have strengthened and 
improved our vessel. She is more trim, sails faster and more free, keeps a better 
reckoning, makes more voyages, and carries out and brings home a richer cargo. 
This we know not only from numerous letters received from the consignees, but 
from the report of our purser. Once more, then, let us express our gratitude, not 
only to our crew and consignees, but to Him “ who sits up aloft,” and may it be His 
will, at the end of another seven years, that our barque may still be described 
as “the good ship Cottage Gardener, outward bound to Bonaventura, with bruit 
and Poultry-ware.” 
