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12, 1862.] the flattery and humbug. Advice I determined not to give till I knew them well. In my own class of life there are many who are really poor, but what would be their feelings if I called on them, advised them how and where to buy their clothes, ordered their dinners, and gave them a ten-pound note? Depend upon it, the poor feel as we do, and that it often requires an effort and all the feelings of dependence they have on a landlord not to reject our money and advice with scorn; and love will never spring up if there is no better intercourse than that with the poor. I determined to see them each and all constantly, to make myself thoroughly acquainted with the characters and circumstances of each family, not doubting that events would arrive in which they would find they had in me an intimate and reliable friend, to whom they could open their hearts in joy and sorrow; but I was aware that this could only be the growth of time.

My first visit was to an old farmer, the only freeholder in the place. I ought perhaps to mention, that in one respect we enjoyed a peculiar facility in dealing with these people, for both my husband and myself belonged to the old county families, and our names were well known to them; several had relations living under the heads of our families, either as tenants or servants; so we were accepted at once as a gentleman and a lady, and those who know the poor know that there is no class that has a higher notion of what those two words mean, or of that to which noblesse oblige.

My visit to the old freeholder in question was thus described by him to one of my family:

“Heh! but you have a good mother; none of your little set up, cocked up bodies, but a good plain woman. Mary made her a cup of tea, and she talked just as if she had been my mother.”

It is very essential to understand the grades of rank amongst the lower orders, or we may unconsciously offend them grievously. Have we never been offended by those above us forgetting our own smaller claims of this nature? An English freeholder, living on the land that has come down to him from father to son, for many generations, ranks very high; his stake in the country is as valuable to him as to the country gentleman; and his politics are generally conservative; his feelings are perfectly independent; and I have seen in such a much nearer approach, both in manner and appearance, to the old British nobleman than in any other class. There is in such persons an entire absence of assumption, and great simplicity of manners.

Beware of appearing to condescend and be affable to a man of this class; behave to him, when you visit him, as you would to the man he resembles. You are then “the good plain woman,” namely, the simple-mannered gentlewoman he admires. This one had always been in opposition to every plan suggested in the parish, and would not go to church, because he had a personal quarrel with the rector! We won him over, and before a year had passed he was willing to aid in every scheme we had on hand.

My husband had brought with him from the south many of the new—at least, what were then new—farming implements: drills and clod-crushers, hoeing and hay-making machines. These were the subject of a very great curiosity. I have seen all the scanty population of our parish gathered together to watch them at work. They saw their merits at once. The draining of the land was the great stumbling-block.

“It’s to noa use, Cunnel, saying what’s done in other parts. I woant say I has not heard tell about drainin’; but you’re clearly wrong with your land, Cunnel; t’ land will graw varry little with t’ whatter (water) on it; and what will it graw if ye tack it away?”

Many were the shakes of the head over the Colonel’s “newfangled notions,” and the prophecies that “he would ruin them twa fine lads o’ his.”

The draining of his own farm was the first experiment; and in two years after that all his tenants, by their own wish, paid him five per cent. on what he laid out for them in this way.

We invited the whole of our tenantry, farmers and cottagers, to a housewarming on our first arrival. I took as much pains to ascertain the rights of precedence, as if I had been receiving the first people in the county. I am sure this caused the success of our fête, which gave immense satisfaction.

The freeholder (he was the only one in our parish), the farmers and their wives, we had at our own table, in our own dining-room; their sons and daughters at another table, presided over by our sons and daughters; the cottagers in the servants’ hall, waited on by our upper servants.

My directions were, that the tables should be entirely covered, each dish to touch the other.

“Heh! Cunnel, but your missis is a rare provider!” I had the gratification of overhearing.

We had many such gatherings.

Shortly after this entertainment, one of our family had an illness. If he had eaten all the ducks and chickens and dozens of new-laid eggs which were sent as appropriate presents for invalid diet, he might soon have had another. He constantly had tea with our tenant-farmers, and never refused to taste the cake and (what was a real trial) the gin and the rum which was offered with it.

We were determined to be popular, and to have our ideas adopted; and as we decidedly succeeded, where many who are equally anxious signally fail, I hope my readers will excuse my detailing all the methods pursued.

A school existed in the village—such a one as satisfied a bygone generation. The master was a cripple and a drunkard, and had been a saddler. Our good rector had made many efforts to get a more efficient man, and at one time thought he had succeeded. He had engaged a master from the Training School at N, and had a promise from the farmers to guarantee a certain income to the man, independent of scholars, who in a scanty population always fluctuate much in number. During the rector’s absence he unfortunately fell ill, and had to return to his friends at a distance, for some months. On his return he found the saddler reinstated; and on complaining to the