“I believe, aunt, you mean the potatoe.”
“Yes,” said my aunt, “the potatoe. It was first brought to England by a traveller, more as a specimen of the vegetable productions of other countries, than with any view of bestowing an extensive benefit on society. And thus it is, my dear, that all things really useful are diffused over those parts of the globe to which they are at all suited. While man is occupied in gratifying his love of conquest, his curiosity, or his avarice—while he is searching after the hidden treasures of the earth, or trafficking for the sake of gain, Providence employs those worldly passions and pursuits to dispense blessings and comforts to all nations.”
“I suppose, aunt,” said I, “that when people settle in new countries, all that is useful amongst us is gradually introduced there.”
“Yes, my dear,” said she, “both the moral acquirements and the natural productions of the parent countries are spread throughout the world by colonies. Emigrants of different nations meet and blend those customs in which some are superior to others; and thus proceeds the slow but sure improvement of the great families of the earth.”
I said that it would be amusing to trace the gradual changes of those great families, and the progress of nations from one country to another by the similarity of customs.
“Nothing could be more useful or entertaining than such an inquiry,” replied my aunt; “but in consulting the historian on those subjects you must take the traveller to your assistance: they each throw light on the other; and each becomes doubly interesting, when we read with the view of comparing the past and the present, and of tracing the progress or the failure of arts and civilization.”
And now, dear Mamma, I smile when I think of your reading this philosophic page in my journal. So, adieu, for this day!
17th.—In these fine evenings there is a soft calmness in the air that is delightful; last night we enjoyed it till the sun’s last faint rays had retired, and not even a streak of red appeared in the west. Before we came home I had the pleasure of seeing the glow-worms light their little lanterns—
Stars of the earth and diamonds of the night.
But, I must say, our fire-flies of Brazil are much superior to them in brightness. Indeed, all the productions of nature here are less brilliant; the birds, insects, and flowers of Brazil are quite dazzling, compared with the dull things that I see in this country. But I am told that this deficiency in beauty is more than made up by some greater merits. For instance, the singing of the birds here in spring is said to be so sweet and so various, that I feel a little childish impatience for their singing time to return, that I may hear them. I am, however, already acquainted with the robin redbreast. I have repeatedly heard its plaintive autumn song.