tering the seeds thinly over the beds, and afterwards raking them in. He caused Adam to cover the new-made beds with pea-haulm from the woodhouse, using some also to protect the glasses over the young cauliflower plants; he then shewed him how to prepare a bed of turnips; all of which occupied several days, and served to initiate Adam into the art of gardening. One morning Mr. Stock told Adam that it was high time he should take a piece of ground into his own management. "Wheel a few barrowfuls of well-rotted manure here," said he, "and trench this plot a spit deep; spread the dung evenly at the bottom of the trenches, then fill in the earth again: when this is done, sow some radish seeds on the top, and rake them in as you have seen me do." Having given these directions, Mr. Stock departed, leaving Adam at his employ ment. For a short time Adam worked away manfully; but stopping shortly to rest on his spade, he said to himself, "What heavy work this trenching is! I wonder why papa wants the manure buried such a way down in the ground, and the seed scattered on the top; it can never be of any use to the radishes; so I'll dig the bed, and mix the dung with the earth, just as I did for the peas and beans." Accordingly, setting to work again, he found his digging much easier; and soon finished his job. Mr. Stock, having also finished what he had been about, soon returned, and directed Adam how to cover the anemones with pea-haulm; to mat and earth up the auriculas and carnations, so as to protect them from rain and frost; and to plant the remaining stock of crocuses, jonquils, narcissuses, and other bulbs, telling him to plant each of these about the depth of his hand in the ground. This was Adam's daily employment for some time, varied by planting some trees which Mr. Stock had ordered, to fill up gaps in the shrubbery, when one morning his father said to him, “I think, Adam, we shall soon have a change of weather; the air has become colder, and we must finish up all we have in hand:" and lucky it was they did so, for on the following morning Adam beheld a scene which filled him with astonishment. All his little flowers were covered with snow; the trees, which when last seen had presented nothing to the eye but naked trunks and leafless branches, were now loaded with a foliage of snow; the slender branches of the birch, and other trees of similar habit, were rendered more pendulous by the weight of the snow they had caught in its descent; even the boughs of the sturdy oak and elm had acquired a drooping appearance by the additional weight; and the whole landscape looked as if it had been traced out in silver, presenting the appearance of an enchanted scene when compared with that of the evening before. A soft snow had been falling all night, quite imperceptible to the ear, and had wrought this change. Adam was disposed to quarrel with it after the first burst of surprise was over; but Mr. Stock soon made him comprehend that this snow would perform the same office, on a large scale, which he proposed doing for his radishes by covering them with the pea-haulm, protecting the crops from the severe frost which was now likely to set in, and Adam was soon satisfied that plenty of in-door employment remained for them. A walk in the fields, and remarks upon the birds, now driven to throw themselves on the hospitality of man, occupied the family till night, when Mr. Stock repeated to them, according to promise, the beautiful little story of the Children in the Wood. The following was a beautiful sunny morning; there had been a slight thaw during the night, followed by a hoar frost; and nothing could be more elegant than the appearance of the trees with the sun shining on them. The trunks and snow-covered branches which the morning before presented a soft, opaque appearance, now glittered and sparkled like pillars of glass, and the little twigs were feathered with a silvery fringe. Bella said, that the tall grass and weeds by the roadside looked like swans'-down, sprinkled with diamonds. The children had never before seen such a sight, and they were delighted. While they were eating their breakfast, and talking of what they had seen in their morning walk, their father explained to them that hoar frost was mist or dew, which froze as it fell; that hail was drops of rain, also frozen suddenly in their fall; and that snow was the water from the clouds, slightly frozen as it descended. The frost and snow continued for some time; and the birds, tamed by the severity of the weather, became their familiar companions. The blackbird came regularly to the parlour window to be fed; and a redbreast, more social than usual, would enter the room, and take its food out of Bella's hand. At length, one evening towards the end of the month, they heard the wind rise; and, shortly after, the rain began to patter against the windows, indicating a change in the weather. On the following morning they found the snow almost gone, the air much milder, and everywhere the appearance of a perfect thaw, with its usual accompaniments, You are not gar dirty snow, broken ground, and muddy roads. "If this mild weather continues, Adam," said Mr. Stock, "we must get to work and prune the fruit trees and the vines. dener enough yet to assist me in doing so; but if you are very attentive to what I tell you, and observe how I do it, next year you shall try your skill on the currant and gooseberry trees. Now, take your knife, and scrape off the moss carefully from this espallier; and then go on to the next, until you have finished them all. We shall soon have plenty of pretty cheerful little flowers in the gardens and under the hedges; and, what with our berries, flowers, and shrubs, even the bare and wintry month of January shall be to our cheerful, happy circle, a season of pleasantness. CHAPTER II. "The frost resolves into a trickling thaw; Spotted the mountains shine; loose sleet descends, THE month of February had now set in, and the frost appeared to be quite gone, although patches of snow still remained on the ground: the garden was soft, the wind was blustering, and the weather altogether unpleasant; but when there was work to be performed, Mr. Stock would not allow the weather to prevent him, and he brought Adam up to care as little for it as he did himself: indeed Adam felt for a time that it was being like a man to do as his father did; but he soon changed his opinion after he had got thoroughly wet several times,-became a little peevish, and said he hated. rain. "Ay, ay, Adam!" said his father; "but you do not hate fruits and flowers; and rain is necessary to their production. Without it the earth would become a barren waste; the cattle would perish for want of food, and you also from the same cause. If you could once know what it is to be in severe want of rain, you would ever afterwards consider it one of the greatest blessings, and never again be out of humour because it wetted you. Come, let us set about our work, and we shall the more enjoy the evening when we get our clothes changed." Accordingly, they persevered in digging the bed they were engaged upon; and the following day being fine, they were able to sow this with beans. They then prepared beds for beet, parsnips, and carrots, by digging it over again, and very deep: then, with a dibble, Mr. Stock made holes a foot deep, three inches wide at top, and nine inches apart; these holes he filled with light rich mould, and in each he placed two seeds, about an inch from the top. Adam inquired why these beds were made so differently from turnip, radish, and cabbage beds; and why he put two seeds into one hole? "I was advised to do so, Adam," said his father, "by a very good gardener. Cannot you guess why?" Adam thought for a moment as he leaned on his spade, and looked at the newly made bed, and then cried out, “Oh yes, to be sure I can! the holes are filled with light earth straight down that the roots may find their way easily, and so grow that way, instead of growing out on each side. Oh, what funny, dumpty carrots I have seen! Oh! and you put in two seeds in case one should fail.” "Right," said his father; "and if both should come up, the bed will be more easily |