, 1886-09-14
ENGLISH LlFg ~ THE COUNTRY.


Inc Charms OF the Home Fhfih IA
school-Room Tn. village.
The life Of the aristocracy when the
family was alone was always NOR"
charming TO me than the III OF
amusement and gayety when their
houses were full of friends. ! was often
a guest when the party was so small
that the great dining-room was closed;
when there were three or -four only at
table in some coscy little nook hung with
c%retonne. instead Of tapestry, and open
ing into a pet corner of my lady's own
garden, instead of on the great terrace
that overlooks the drive. At these times
| was admitted more freely to the bou-
doir of the hostess: and sometimes | had
a grander bed chamber, for that was al
lotted 10 me which, when there was II
party, belonged to a married pair. But
there was shooting Ia the morning al
most as a matter of course, or cub hunt
ing. for the men. while of an afternoon
there was the usual drive with the ladies.
On such occasions 1 was taken to the
farm, where the supplies for the great
house are raised. Then | made acqiaint-
ance with the gardner and became al
home in the acres of c~onservatories
Then | was introduced to the kennels
and the preserves; ! learned the meth
DDS of breeding pheasants and the hab-
its of the hounds. Sometimes | did not
go with the shooters, but was allowed to
stroll over the moors with my hostess
and the children. We read aloud under
The trees. or there was a family picnic by
the brook, or a very intimate neighbor
joined MS, full Of life and frolic and hoy
denish beauty. Or if | went with the
host, lac told me of the management of
his estates: no took mo to the covors in
close times, explained the architecture
of his house. the history of this wing.
the antiquity Of the chapel, his relations
with his rector. his dealings with his
farmers, the system of tenure, the condi-
ton of his cottagers.
The school-room was one Of my favor
lite resorts. liked TO see the little Lady
Blanche, not ) years old, sitting at her
sampler. and to hearth g%overness mildly
rebuke Lord Henry because he could not
spell. | ~recollect staying at q house
where the lady superintendent of the
royal children was a guest. She was
herself the daughter of an earl, and !
asked her how she addressed the progeny
of ma jesty. She was amazed at the in
quiry. As prince and princess and royal
highness, of course" she replied. @How
else should ! speak to them?" The
princess Louise was at one time q mem
Der Of n singular club that performed in
oratorio at private houses. She was not
n good musician, and | asked the baron
a. la.-ltA. L. ,t - l.---.--
whether she venturcd ever to correct her
illustrious chorister. "Oh. yes" she said;
1 often have to call out, That's a false
note, num-, and the princess takes it
very meekly; but Lord Lorne always
brides and thinks me impairment"
Some times | accompanied the ladies'
to the village school. The mistress was
usually Il farmers daughter, and, if
highly respectable, she exchanged visits
with the housekeeper at the hall. At
one ancient seat the village was in the
park: cottages, church, and school house
all within a stones throw of the masters
stable. The lord of this manor was
munifcent in many ways; he had built
a set of cottages with especial care: the
laborers' families liked to see the ladies
of the house, and cordially made them
welcome, though awcd by the silk
gowns and the condescension; and the
ladies' kne every old crone and every
urchin by name. The children OF
this village came up TO the servants hall
two or three times q year to tea; it was
a great festival for them-quite like GO
ing 10 court. They wore their best bibs,
and only those We're allowed sugar who
had won prizes for lessons or behavior.
Adam Bldeau's Letter.