200 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 19. 
the weather is dull or betokens rain, or, in fact, when it 
actually does rain, if the rain is not in sufficient quantity 
to reach the roots of the plants. Stir the earth between 
the rows whenever there is a chance to do so; and 
though necessity will often compel this crop to assume 
an untidy aspect, still let that be as little as possible ; 
— a little management will assist in giving it an 
orderly look, notwithstanding the mulching matters and 
other things, which, more or less, disfigure it when its 
growth has to be maintained in such an artificial state. 
J. Robson. 
THE SPOILED CHILD. 
{Concluded from purje 105.) 
1 closed my last paper with an admonition to my own 
sex; but the melancholy circumstances of poor Mrs. Camp¬ 
bell’s married life will be more powerful than many warning 
words. They will lay bare the real nature of unholy mar¬ 
riages; what miseries are entailed by them; how hollow 
and deceitful fair appearances are, especially in such cases; 
and how bitterly woman suffers by allowing worldly motives 
and worldly considerations to actuate her in this momentous 
step. Sometimes, even care and circumspection cannot 
detect the cheat; but w hen folly, recklessness, or vanity 
blind the eyes, or stupify the mind, nothing can be expected 
but disaster. There is but one glass through which we can 
see clearly—which removes the him before our eyes, and 
displays every object in its right light. There is but one 
rule to square our actions by, whether they are great or 
small. This glass and rule will oblige us sometimes to do 
tilings very uncomfortable to our natural feelings, I know; 
but depend upon it, if we do not use them, we shall find the 
castle our own hands have built will fall upon our heads, 
and grind us to powder. 
“ From the moment of her marriage, Mrs. Campbell’s 
happiness was gone. Young Campbell was, as might be 
expected, a brutish husband; selfish in the extreme, with no 
thought beyond the gratification of his own wishes. Soon 
after the marriage, the health of the bride appeared to give 
way; it w'as evident her husband was obnoxious to her, 
and that she regretted, when too late, that her firmness in 
refusing him had not been more resolute; and symptoms 
of rather an alarming nature began to show themselves. 
She was now rather more than twenty years of age ; and 
on reaching her twenty-first birth-day, her large, unsettled 
property would become her husband’s. No wonder, then, 
that he became anxious ; that he consulted eminent physi¬ 
cians, and appeared to grieve when an unfavourable opinion 
was given. Still, there appeared, for some time, no imme¬ 
diate fear of a fatal termination; the disease was doubtless 
one of danger, but might, by appropriate remedies, be 
warded off for some years; and, in fact, by judicious nurs¬ 
ing, and kind and gentle treatment, with mental quiet and 
repose, be altogether removed. But it was not so to be. 
Medicine, and medical treatment, indeed, she had ; but 
where was she to look for sympathy and support in this 
world? To God, indeed, she might, and we hope did, apply 
for protection ; but from her husband what could she expect ? 
As time grew on she gradually became worse; it wanted 
but three months to her twenty-first birth-day, which, if she 
did not live to reach, her large property would pass away 
into a totally different channel, and her husband’s anticipa¬ 
tions would be utterly blighted. Every effort, therefore, 
was made by him to recruit her failing strength; every 
advice was sought that held out the slightest hope of suc¬ 
cess ; physicians far and wide were consulted; but still she 
appeared sinking. Her eyes became more dim, her cheek 
more pallid, and her limbs became less and less able to sup¬ 
port her tottering frame; till at last, just one month before 
the long-looked-for day, poor Mrs. Campbell sank into the 
grave, worn out by unkindness and deep distress. 
“Is there not a lesson in this? Man may, indeed, lay 
deep schemes for worldly aggrandisement; he may conceive 
that his plans are so securely made that nothing can inter¬ 
fere witli their happy consummation; but then comes the 
voice of the Lord uttering the tremendous ‘ Ichabod,’ and 
all his worldly wisdom is set at nought—his counsels are 
ropes of sand, and all his anticipations are destroyed! This 
surely was an instance of it. 
“It is not uncharitable to suppose, from the peculiar cir¬ 
cumstances of this unhappy marriage, that the widower did 
not deeply lay to heart the death of his wife for her own 
sake, but for that of her property. His parents, too, were 
both removed shortly after her decease; so that young 
Campbell was left almost at once standing alone in the 
world. 
“ From the period of his wife’s death, the young man’s 
unsatisfactory habits took a more decided turn. Intemper¬ 
ance, card-playing, and gambling, seemed to become neces¬ 
sary to his very existence. This kind of life led him into 
the society of horse-dealers and jockies—men, as a body, not 
remarkable either for the morality of their lives, or scrupulosity 
of dealing ; and by them, doubtless, was “ fleeced ” of his 
ready cash to a very considerable extent. Again he married ; 
and in this case, not, as I am aware, for any motive of gain; 
and his wife was, I believe, a respectable person in Im¬ 
position. The credit of an habitual gambler can never be 
great; whispers began to be heard that his solvency was 
doubtful, and caution in giving him credit began to be exer¬ 
cised by prudent tradesmen. At length he became seri¬ 
ously embarrassed, and it was evident to all that his affairs 
must speedily be adjusted through the Court of Bankruptcy. 
The probability of such a termination was abruptly brought 
to an end by a catastrophe which caused the most painful 
excitement in the town in which he resided. A bill was 
given by him in payment, which was accepted in the name 
of a firm of respectability, and was, consequently, unhesitat¬ 
ingly received by the party to whom it was given. The bill 
was returned dishonoured; application rvas made to the ac¬ 
ceptors, and they at once pronounced their names a forgery, 
i Armed with a warrant for his apprehension, the chief polic e 
i agent repaired to his residence, and knocking at the door, 
requested an interview. Campbell, unconscious of the 
i person who waited to see him in his sitting-room, shortly 
I made his appearance, and stood aghast when he became 
| acquainted with the purport of the call. Eecovering liim- 
1 self, however, he requested leave to prepare his wife for the 
! shock, and left the room, closely followed by the policeman. 
! Turning abruptly round, he drew from his pocket a phial, 
which, before bis captor could dash from his hand, he applied 
to his mouth, and swallowed its contents. One fearful 
groan, and all was over ! The soul of the wretched Camp¬ 
bell stood in the presence of a pure and righteous God.” 
Reader! ponder the beginning ancl the end of a spoiled 
child! Mark each onward step in the road to ruin ! Con¬ 
sider the horrors that attend the footsteps of guilt! Let 
; the pure "Word of Divine Wisdom close this tale of terror, 
and sink into every heart. “ Chasten thy son while there is 
hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” “ Train 
up a child in the way he should go, and when lie is old he 
i will not depart from it.” “Bring them up in the nurture 
and admonition of the Lord.” 
“ Rejoice, 0 young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart 
cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of 
thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes.” Reader! mark 
1 the awful threat and consequence that follows—“But know 
I thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judg¬ 
ment.” “ Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy 
youth, while the evil days come not.” “ Put away from thee 
a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let 
thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight 
before thee. Ponder the patli of thy feet, and let all thy 
ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the 
left: remove thy feet from evil. My son, attend unto 
my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding.” 
THE BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND AGRI¬ 
CULTURAL SOCIETY’S POULTRY SHOW. 
The Poultry Shows held in conjunction with the Annual 
Meetings of the above Society have been very successful 
in attracting visitors and procuring funds. At Plymouth, in 
1853, the receipts were large; and at Bath, last year, Mr. 
Jonathan Gray, the Director of the Poultry Show, after 
