heather, destroys it, and white clover, (trifolium repens,) will spring up in its place.

Seed Corn.-Farmers usually get the best sample they can, without considering the soil or climate where it has been grown; we know, that, by high cultivation and care, the quality of plants, particularly of the natural order gramineæ, have been much improved. Therefore it would seem self-evident, that we should introduce into our soil the seed grown on land not quite so good as our own, or brought from a climate not quite so genial. If, on the contrary, from richer soil, or better climate, it seems quite natural that it should degenerate. Some people deny, from their own experience, that the seed constantly grown from the same soil does degenerate; and perhaps they may not be wrong, if the seed first introduced were from an inferior soil.

Carlisle Codlin Apple.-The superior quality of an apple tart having induced an inquiry as to the name of the apple, it proved to be the "Carlisle Codlin." The "Keswick Codlin," which we often see in lists, is held very cheap at Carlisle. The Carlisle Codlin has the peculiarity of being better propagated by slips, and deserves to be better known.-Horticultural Register, No. 32, February, 1834.

At Dover, in a very exposed situation, and chalky, unsightly soil, a border was covered with moss, much was in a growing state, and the effect of the flowers growing out of it was very pretty; and, at the same time, the surface of the bed was kept in a state favourable to the growth of the plants, which was very evident from their appearance.-Floricultural Cabinet.

MR. EDITOR,

GAMBLING AT FAIRS.

It would be well to remind young persons of the sums of money that are insensibly wasted in throwing at snuffboxes, and in similar foolish ways at country fairs; and I know of no better channel for the purpose, than your useful and amusing Magazine.

On occasion of a fair in the village from which I am

1834.]

GAMBLING AT FAIRS.

173

writing, a few days since, it was not without a feeling of pity and disgust that I perceived the foolish fondness for throwing at snuff-boxes prevailing to a lamentable degree; and I had the curiosity to place a watch on the table, desiring a little boy to observe how many sticks were thrown in the course of ten minutes, (the discharge of each stick from the hand being a discharge of one halfpenny from the pocket). The number of sticks discharged in the ten minutes was fifty, i. e. two shillings and one penny. And as the sport was by no means at its height, at the time the observation was made, we may at least conclude that the sum of twelve shillings and sixpence per hour was expended in this way. this money, be it noticed, was expended in the encouragement of vagrancy. How it might have been expended, let those consider who were the fools to waste it. Surely such young persons must forget that there are Savings' Banks:-at least those throwers away of halfpence must not complain of want of money.

All

Hoping that this little hint may be of use to save sundry halfpence from a foolish purpose, and perhaps turn them to a wise one, I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

A FRIEND TO INDUSTRY.

A SHORT ACCOUNT OF JANE C. AN OLD AND FAITHFUL

SERVANT.

AN EXAMPLE AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO SERVANTS.

SIR, I AM induced to send you the following history of an old and faithful servant, who lately died under my roof, as I think it likely to be useful to a certain class of your readers. You may depend upon it being strictly true. Should you wish it, I can have no hesitation in sending you my name and address.-Your's, &c.

"A FRIEND of the Poor."

WE often hear complaints made both of bad servants, and of bad masters and mistresses; and it must be confessed that such complaints are not always without cause,although they are entirely without excuse, to either of the

offending parties. Whereas, if they who rule, and they who serve in a family, were really and truly servants of One Master, even Christ,-if both would make it their daily prayer and endeavour to order their conduct according to the Gospel, particularly as set forth in the precepts of the Apostle Paul', we should not then hear of so many families always changing their servants, and we should have more instances of long and tried fidelity and attachment on the part of servants, such as the following which I am about to record.

Jane C was born in a village in the Isle of Wight, in the year 1768. It was her misfortune, (humanly speaking) although it pleased God that it should not operate to her disadvantage in future life, that her father and mother had not been married. Her mother deserted her, but her father took her under his roof, where she remained, until death separated him from her, when she was very young. He left her wholly unprovided for. Thus thrown upon the wide world, this friendless girl was taken into the parish workhouse. Friendless indeed she was not long-for it pleased the God of the fatherless, to raise up a friend in the person of a neighbour of her father. He could not bear the idea of seeing the child of his friend consigned to such an abode of wretchedness-for, in those days, the poor were not so carefully provided for and kindly treated, as they are now. One little week she passed under that roof, when she was received into the house of that good man, and was brought up and treated as one of his family. As soon as she was able to work, (for there were no schools then throughout the land, as there are now, for poor children,) she made herself as useful as she could. In course of time she went out to service, first to a baker—but she soon obtained a situation in a respectable family in the Island, as nurse-maid, where she lived several years; the exact time is unknown to the writer. From that place, which she left with the highest character, she had the good fortune to be received into a family of great respectability in P--h, and it was equally their good

1 See Ephes. vi. 5-9. Col. iii. 22.

1834.]

A SHORT ACCOUNT OF JANE C.

175

fortune to have met with such a servant. Here she lived for twenty-eight years. Although the family were grown up, and her services were no longer needed in the nursery, she still remained in the family, who were very much attached to her. And here I would stop to remark, that it is much to the credit both of masters and mistresses, as well as of servants, whether male or female, when they live together for any length of time. Some families are heard to say, that they can never keep servants, and some servants are too fond of changing their places, without any real or good reason. The old saying is a very true one, "The rolling stone gathers no moss.' Jane knew that she had a good situation, but she knew also, that it would either one day leave her, or she must leave it. She therefore laid by in the summer of her days whatever she could spare, in order to make the winter of her old age comfortable-and how much, Reader, do you think that was? No less a sum than 2501. Her money had been put out to interest, which helped to raise it to so large an amount.

The family in which she lived was not exempt from those visitations, which powerfully remind us that this world is not our rest, nor our family circle our home. It pleased God to break up this family of affection, by removing out of the world both the parents, and by dispersing the different branches in various directions. And what became, you may now ask, of "Good old Jenny," as she used to be called? Although she had enough of her own to have lived comfortably by herself, yet she accepted the offer which was made to her of spending the remainder of her days under the roof of a clergyman, who was married to one of the family. Here she lived for four years, and the writer of this, her simple history, can bear witness, that, like the Patriarchs, her's was a good old age," "good" at least, comparatively speaking, for "there is none" really "good, no not one." She was very constant and attentive to her religious duties, and was always ready to do all the good that was in her power, by helping to make up things for the poor, and by visiting them, and giving away many articles of clothing to them. But Jenny's days were numbered!

She had worked hard all her life, as her bent frame testified—and her health gradually declined: without having any particular complaint; she grew weaker and weaker, till at last she took to her bed. Here she lay for four months, and, notwithstanding her bodily suffering, which was very great, it may, with truth be said, that " Patience had her perfect work.'

She never had any advantages of a religious education, having taught herself to read, rather late in life; but she had the power of religion in her heart, and she displayed the fruit of it in her life. As she drew nearer to her end, her views of "the truth as it is in Jesus," seemed to grow clearer and clearer. Distinctly she used to state, that her only hope was in Christ. Although her life had been of the most moral kind, and although she had discharged her duties with strict fidelity, yet she did not lean on such a broken reed as her own poor, imperfect, and unprofitable services! Shortly before her death, she was exhorted to "look unto Jesus;" and the last words which she uttered, were, "I do!" She then quietly and calmly breathed her last, and fell asleep in the Lord! Her remains were followed to the grave by the clergyman and his lady, their domestics, and some friends and acquaintances whom she had made in the place.

It only remains to be told how she disposed of her money; and in this respect she deserves to be held up as an example. After bequeathing 251. to the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and the same sum to the Church Missionary Society, she left the remainder to the surviving members of the family who had taken care of her in her infancy, when she had no one else on earth to care for her. Although she had never been a great burden to them, and had been removed for a great number of years, and by distance, no length of time or separation, could make her forget that she was still their debtor. Truly this is gratitude!

And is not this short and simple history of Jane C. both an encouragement and an example to persons in her situation of life? No one could begin life under more apparently adverse circumstances than she did. Once an