December has other associations peculiar to itself, and, especially in the country, has its own enjoyments. It is the merriest month in the year. Its grand holyday - Christmas, has survived all others; and although the custom is not kept up as in the days of our ancestors, when, according to Jonsonrare Ben Jonson

"The jolly wassail walks the often round

And in their cups their cares were drowned :"

Still as Mr. Stock and his family managed it, the enjoyments of December made them almost forget the delight of their May mornings.

In all these enjoyments, however, our gardeners found plenty of employment, which served to give zest to their indoor enjoyments. They finished trenching the vacant ground, tended the hand-glasses and frames, giving them plenty of air when the days were fine, but carefully closing them on the approach of night. Their early peas and beans now began to shew themselves above ground, and when the absence of frost permitted, the earth was drawn gently round their stems. The celery was earthed up; and Adam found that, even in the dead season, there was plenty of employment for the industrious gardener. By constant exercise he had become one of the finest and cheerfullest boys possible; and by the sensible conversations of his father and mother he had acquired more useful knowledge than boys much older than himself, and who had been in excellent schools, too, could boast of; for, without knowing it himself, he was always storing up something worthy of being known; and it had this advantage, that it was generally impressed upon

his mind by having some practical application; this rendered it easy for him to remember it: and, with these advantages, it is not surprising that, in course of time, Adam became a great traveller, and a skilful botanist, as well as a worthy, honest man.