Ch. Here is a bible, and a testament, and a prayer-book, and a spelling book, and a volume of the Gardener’s Dictionary.
Mr. Ev. And how many of your family can read, my friend?
Jac. All the children but the two youngest can read a little, sir; but Meg, there, is the best scholar among us. She reads us a chapter in the Testament every morning, and very well, too, though I say it.
Mr. Ev. Do you hear that, Charles?
Ch. I do, sir. Here’s an almanac, too, against the wall; and here are my favourite ballads of the Children in the Wood, and Chevy-chase.
Jac. I let the children paste them up, sir, and a few more that have no harm in them. There’s Hearts of Oak, and Rule Britannia, and Robin Gray.
Mr. Ev. A very good choice, indeed. I see you have a pretty garden there behind the house.
Jac. It is only a little spot, sir; but it serves for some amusement, and use too.
Ch. What beautiful stocks and wall-flowers! We have none so fine in our garden.
Jac. Why, master, to say the truth, we are rather proud of them. I have got a way of cultivating them, that I believe few besides myself are acquainted with; and on Sundays I have plenty of visiters to come and admire them.