culty in being honest. I wish he had the same facility in being wise, for he is fast allowing the foolish ideas and misplaced sentiments of his silly sisters to thrust from his heart that oldfashioned English heartiness, which is fast decaying; but it is getting late, so good night, good night, both of you."

I may be accused of putting sentiments into the heart, and words into the mouth of a youth which could not have found place there, but be it recollected that a well educated boy of fifteen years of age, who has a mind and who is not blind to the occurrences, which are daily passing around him, is by no means incapable of judging character; and Frederick Passmore only saw that which all others would have seen, who had one thought above the common order. But I must leave the inmates of the hall in peace and rest, for there are in that old mansion, hearts as warm, feelings as generous, minds as bright and as noble, as I shall hereafter show, as might be found far and wide in the merry lands of England.

CHAPTER XI.

The poor man who patiently endures his want, is rich enough.

THE situation of the rural labouring class, that is the whole class of agricultural poor, has long attracted the commiseration of the country; by none, however, is their situation more justly estimated than by those who constantly are brought in contact with them, and I can honestly assert, that when he who is strictly termed an agricultural labourer, does suffer from actual poverty, great indeed must be

those sufferings; though I have already expressed my belief, a belief which I fancy few will gainsay that the misery of agricultural poverty is by no means commensurate with that of the artisan class. It must, however, be born in mind as regards the tiller of the ground or farm labourer, that with the exception of the harvest season when he may be enabled, by mowing or reaping, to add a few extra shillings to his hard earned gains, and thereby be enabled to pay the rental of his cottage, even in the most favourable period his gains rarely amount to more than the sum required to purchase the bare necessaries of life; he has no superfluities, no luxuries, seldom sufficiency; and whenever the slightest reduction in these is caused, either by sickness or any other unforeseen circumstances which encroaches on those gains, no economy, however laudable, can supply the deficiency; he has nothing to economise from. Should these means then be withdrawn by failing health or strength

his sole means of existence is forfeited; and the term poverty is not a metaphor when applied to him as it often is when used with respect to many higher classes whom a change of circumstances only make poor by comparison to that which they previously possessed, debarring them solely from the idle frivolities. of the world or the uncalled for luxuries in which they may have imprudently or too lavishly have indulged. The very deduction of sixpence per week to a day labourer, small as the sum appears, is a serious diminution of income. I do not mean to infer that when poverty comes to the mechanic, that it comes not more severely, but it comes not with such devastating effects as to the rural labourer; the wages of the artisan are, generally speaking, far higher, particularly so if he be an able and well conducted man; he then generally receives more than sufficient for the absolute means of existence; and ought, and does sometimes, lay by a little for an evil day, which, if it be

caused by sickness or any other reason than from misconduct or drunkenness, enables him to keep his head above water, the black day is passed, and he labours onwards. A farmer, however, generally employs a certain number of hands, for the work cannot stand, seed must be sown, ground manured and ploughed, corn cut, and hay mowed, and if one man is unable to attend to these matters, another must take his place, a place he finds some difficulty in regaining; and he has little else to do if he cannot get work than to starve, while the lark sings as gaily, the sun shines as brightly, and the flowers bloom as freshly all around him.

Oh! how sad, how passing sad, is the heart of man, who looks on nature adorned with its brightest garb, and yet sees around him children on whom his heart fondly dotes, in penury; who longs to labour, yet labour is not to be had. It is at such times as these that the hearts of landlords, if they have the power, should induce them to cast away some idle and