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elds　of　arable　land；　more　lively　still　with　troops　of　stooping　bean…setters；　women　and　children；　in　all　varieties　of　costume　and　colour；　and　ploughs　and　harrows；　with　their　whistling　boys　and　steady　carters；　going　through；　with　a　slow　and　plodding　industry；　the　main　business　of　this　busy　season。　　What　work　beansetting　is！　What　a　reverse　of　the　position　assigned　to　man　to　distinguish　him　from　the　beasts　of　the　field！　　Only　think　of　stooping　for　six；　eight；　ten　hours　a　day；　drilling　holes　in　the　earth　with　a　little　stick；　and　then　dropping　in　the　beans　one　by　one。　　They　are　paid　according　to　the　quantity　they　plant；　and　some　of　the　poor　women　used　to　be　accused　of　clumping　themthat　is　to　say；　of　dropping　more　than　one　bean　into　a　hole。　　It　seems　to　me；　considering　the　temptation；　that　not　to　clump　is　to　be　at　the　very　pinnacle　of　human　virtue。

Another　turn　in　the　lane；　and　we　come　to　the　old　house　standing　amongst　the　high　elmsthe　old　farm…house；　which　always；　I　don't　know　why；　carries　back　my　imagination　to　Shakspeare's　days。　　It　is　a　long；　low；　irregular　building；　with　one　room；　at　an　angle　from　the　house；　covered　with　ivy；　fine　white…veined　ivy；　the　first　floor　of　the　main　building　projecting　and　supported　by　oaken　beams；　and　one　of　the　windows　below；　with　its　old　casement　and　long　narrow　panes；　forming　the　half　of　a　shallow　hexagon。　　A　porch；　with　seats　in　it；　surmounted　by　a　pinnacle；　pointed　roofs；　and　clustered　chimneys；　complete　the　picture！　　Alas！　it　is　little　else　but　a　picture！　　The　very　walls　are　crumbling　to　decay　under　a　careless　landlord　and　ruined　tenant。

Now　a　few　yards　farther；　and　I　reach　the　bank。　　Ah！　I　smell　them　alreadytheir　exquisite　perfume　steams　and　lingers　in　this　moist；　heavy　air。　　Through　this　little　gate；　and　along　the　green　south　bank　of　this　green　wheat…field；　and　they　burst　upon　me；　the　lovely　violets；　in　tenfold　loveliness。　　The　ground　is　covered　with　them；　white　and　purple；　enamelling　the　short　dewy　grass；　looking　but　the　more　vividly　coloured　under　the　dull；　leaden　sky。　　There　they　lie　by　hundreds；　by　thousands。　　In　former　years　I　have　been　used　to　watch　them　from　the　tiny　green　bud；　till　one　or　two　stole　into　bloom。　They　never　came　on　me　before　in　such　a　sudden　and　luxuriant　glory　of　simple　beauty；and　I　do　really　owe　one　pure　and　genuine　pleasure　to　feverish　London！　　How　beautifully　they　are　placed　too；　on　this　sloping　bank；　with　the　palm　branches　waving　over　them；　full　of　early　bees；　and　mixing　their　honeyed　scent　with　the　more　delicate　violet　odour！　　How　transparent　and　smooth　and　lusty　are　the　branches；　full　of　sap　and　life！　　And　there；　just　by　the　old　mossy　root；　is　a　superb　tuft　of　primroses；　with　a　yellow　butterfly　hovering　over　them；　like　a　flower　floating　on　the　air。　　What　happiness　to　sit　on　this　tufty　knoll；　and　fill　my　basket　with　the　blossoms！　　What　a　renewal　of　heart　and　mind！　　To　inhabit　such　a　scene　of　peace　and　sweetness　is　again　to　be　fearless；　gay；　and　gentle　as　a　child。　　Then　it　is　that　thought　becomes　poetry；　and　feeling　religion。　　Then　it　is　that　we　are　happy　and　good。　　Oh；　that　my　whole　life　could　pass　so；　floating　on　blissful　and　innocent　sensation；　enjoying　in　peace　and　gratitude　the　common　blessings　of　Nature；　thankful　above　all　for　the　simple　habits；　the　healthful　temperament；　which　render　them　so　dear！　　Alas！　who　may　dare　expect　a　life　of　such　happiness？　　But　I　can　at　least　snatch　and　prolong　the　fleeting　pleasure；　can　fill　my　basket　with　pure　flowers；　and　my　heart　with　pure　thoughts；　can　gladden　my　little　home　with　their　sweetness；　can　divide　my　treasures　with　one；　a　dear　one；　who　cannot　seek　them；　can　see　them　when　I　shut　my　eyes　and　dream　of　them　when　I　fall　asleep。


THE　COPSE。

April　18th。Sad　wintry　weather；　a　northeast　wind；　a　sun　that　puts　out　one's　eyes；　without　affording　the　slightest　warmth；　dryness　that　chaps　lips　and　hands　like　a　frost　in　December；　rain　that　comes　chilly　and　arrowy　like　hail　in　January；　nature　at　a　dead　pause；　no　seeds　up　in　the　garden；　no　leaves　out　in　the　hedgerows；　no　cowslips　swinging　their　pretty　bells　in　the　fields；　no　nightingales　in　the　dingles；　no　swallows　skimming　round　the　great　pond；　no　cuckoos　（that　ever　I　should　miss　that　rascally　sonneteer！）　in　any　part。　Nevertheless　there　is　something　of　a　charm　in　this　wintry　spring；　this　putting…back　of　the　seasons。　　If　the　flower…clock　must　stand　still　for　a　month　or　two；　could　it　choose　a　better　time　than　that　of　the　primroses　and　violets？　　I　never　remember　（and　for　such　gauds　my　memory；　if　not　very　good　for　aught　of　wise　or　useful；　may　be　trusted）　such　an　affluence　of　the　one　or　such　a　duration　of　the　other。　　Primrosy　is　the　epithet　which　this　year　will　retain　in　my　recollection。　　Hedge；　ditch；　meadow；　field；　even　the　very　paths　and　highways；　are　set　with　them；　but　their　chief　habitat　is　a　certain　copse；　about　a　mile　off；　where　they　are　spread　like　a　carpet；　and　where　I　go　to　visit　them　rather　oftener　than　quite　comports　with　the　dignity　of　a　lady　of　mature　age。　　I　am　going　thither　this　very　afternoon；　and　May　and　her　company　are　going　too。

This　Mayflower　of　mine　is　a　strange　animal。　　Instinct　and　imitation　make　in　her　an　approach　to　reason　which　is　sometimes　almost　startling。　　She　mimics　all　that　she　sees　us　do；　with　the　dexterity　of　a　monkey；　and　far　more　of　gravity　and　apparent　purpose；　cracks　nuts　and　eats　them；　gathers　currants　and　severs　them　from　the　stalk　with　the　most　delicate　nicety；　filches　and　munches　apples　and　pears；　is　as　dangerous　in　an　orchard　as　a　schoolboy；　smells　to　flowers；　smiles　at　meeting；　answers　in　a　pretty　lively　voice　when　spoken　to　（sad　pity　that　the　language　should　be　unknown！）　and　has　greatly　the　advantage　of　us　in　a　conversation；　inasmuch　as　our　meaning　is　certainly　clear　to　her；all　this　and　a　thousand　amusing　prettinesses　（to　say　nothing　of　her　canine　feat　of　bringing　her　game　straight　to　her　master's　feet；　and　refusing　to　resign　it　to　any　hand　but　his）；　does　my　beautiful　greyhound　perform　untaught；　by　the　mere　effect　of　imitation　and　sagacity。　　Well；　May；　at　the　end　of　the　coursing　season；　having　lost　Brush；　our　old　spaniel；　her　great　friend；　and　the　blue　greyhound；　Mariette；　her　comrade　and　rival；　both　of　which　four…footed　worthies　were　sent　out　to　keep　for　the　summer；　began　to　find　solitude　a　weary　condition；　and　to　look　abroad　for　company。　　Now　it　so　happened　that　the　same　suspension　of　sport　which　had　reduced　our　little　establishment　from　three　dogs　to　one；　had　also　dispersed　the　splendid　kennel　of　a　celebrated　courser　in　our　neighbourhood；　three　of　whose　finest　young　dogs　came　home　to　'their　walk'　（as　the　sporting　phrase　goes）　at　the　collarmaker's　in　our　village。　　May；　accordingly；　on　the　first　morning　of　her　solitude　（she　had　never　taken　the　slightest　notice　of　her　neighbours　before；　although　they　had　sojourned　in　our　street　upwards　of　a　fortnight）；　bethought　herself　of　the　timely　resource　offered　to　her　by　the　vicinity　of　these　canine　beaux；　and　went　up　boldly　and　knocked　at　their　stable　door；　which　was　already　very　commodiously　on　the　half…latch。　　The　three　dogs　came　out　with　much　alertness　and　gallantry；　and　May；　declining　apparently　to　enter　their　territories；　brought　them　off　to　her　own。　　This　manoeuvre　has　been　repeated　every　day；　with　one　variation；　of　the　three　dogs；　the　first　a　brindle；　the　second　a　yellow；　and　the　third　a　black；　the　two　first　only　are　now　allowed　to　walk　or　consort　with　her；　and　the　last；　poor　fellow；　for　no　fault　that　I　can　discover　except　May's　caprice；　is　driven　away　not　only　by　the　fair　lady；　but　even　by　his　old　companionsis；　so　to　say；　sent　to　Coventry。　　Of　her　two　permitted　followers；　the　yellow　gentleman；　Saladin　by　name；　is　decidedly　the　favourite。　　He　is；　indeed；　May's　shadow；　and　will　walk　with　me　whether　I　choose　or　not。　It　is　quite　impossible　to　get　rid　of　him　unless　by　discarding　Miss　May　also；and　to　accomplish　a　walk　in　the　country　without　her；　would　be　like　an　adventure　of　Don　Quixote　without　his　faithful　'squire　Sancho。

So　forth　we　set；　May　and　I；　and　Saladin　and　the　brindle；　May　and　myself　walking　with　the　sedateness　and　decorum　befitting　our　sex　and　age　（she　is　five　years　old　this　grass；　rising　six）the　young　things；　for　the　soldan　and　the　brindle　are　（not　meaning　any　disrespect）　little　better　than　puppies；　frisking　and　frolicking　as　best　pleased　them。

Our　route　lay　for　the　first　part　along　the　sheltered　quiet　lanes　which　lead　to　our　old　habitation；　a　way　never　trodden　by　me　without　peculiar　and　homelike　feelings；　full　of　the　recollections；　the　pains　and　pleasures；　of　other　days。　　But　we　are　not　to　talk　sentiment　now；even　May　would　not　understand　that　maudlin　language。　　We　must　get　on。　　What　a　wintry　hedgerow　this　is　for　the　eighteenth　of　April！　Primrosy　to　be　sure；　abundantly　spangled　with　those　stars　of　the　earth；but　so　bare；　so　leafless；　so　cold！　　The　wind　whistles　through　the　brown　boughs　as　in　winter。　　Even　the　early　elder　shoots；　which　do　make　an　approach　to　springiness；　look　brown；　and　the　small　leaves　of　the　woodbine；　which　have　also　ventured　to　peep　forth；　are　of　a　sad　purple；　frost…bitten；　like　a　dairymaid's　elbows　on　a　snowy　morning。　　The　very　birds；　in　this　season　of　pairing　and　building；　look　chilly　and　uncomfortable；　and　their　nests！'Oh；　Saladin！　come　away　from　the　hedge！　　Don't　you　see　that　what　puzzles　you　and　makes　you　leap　up　in　the　air　is　a　redbreast's　nest？　　Don't　you　see　the　pretty　speckled　eggs？　　Don't　you　hear　the　poor　hen　calling　as　it　were　for　help？　　Come　here　this　moment；　sir！'　　And　by　good　luck　Saladin　（who　for　a　paynim　has　tolerable　qualities）　comes；　before　he　has　touched　the　nest；　or　before　his　playmate　the　brindle；　the　less　manageable　of　the　two；　has　espied　it。

Now　we　go　round　the　corner　and　cross　the　bridge；　where　the　common；　with　its　clear　stream　winding　between　clumps　of　elms；　assumes　so　park…like　an　appearance。　　Who　is　this　approaching　so　slowly　and　majestically；　this　square　bundle　of　petticoat　and　cloak；　this　road…waggon　of　a　woman？　　It　is；　it　must　be　Mrs。　Sally　Mearing；　the　completest　specimen　within　my　knowledge　of　farmeresses　（may　I　be　allowed　that　innovation　in　language？）　as　they　were。　　It　can　be　nobody　else。

Mrs。　Sally　Mearing；　when　I　first　became　acquainted　with　her；　occupied；　together　with　her　father　（a　superannuated　man　of　ninety）；　a　large　farm　ver