, 1889-04-17

fast, after which the ladies of the family
betake themselves to their household
tasks (domeSticS are a luxury only to be
INDUCED in by the few, &6 u mouth being
considered moderate wageS), and the gen.
tlemen to their labOurS in the feld,-
ploughing, sowing, or oultivating. Or
chard planting is the present occupation,
u long and tedious business. At noon, q
flag is hOiSted to summon the family to the
midday meal. That over, and the debris
removed, the men resume their avOcations,
and the female portion of the community
are at liberty TO indulge in an hour or two
of recreation. THIS takes the form of a
rO~cklng-chair on the verandah, with books
or work among the elders, while the yOun.
ger members of the family prefer "a ride or
a walk. Riding for the mail is q favOurite
errand, our store and poSt-ofhce being
some two miles off on the other side of the
river. Perhaps the ~pleaSantest hour OF
the day is the return Of the messenger,
with the home correspondence, including
one day in the week the welcome Spectator,
which is seized on and devoured with avi.
dlty. 10 one of our party, who has lett
his heart in England, the arrival of the
mail is an all important event.
BY this time, IA lovely rosy tint stealing
' NAS W tA IA AC Sa9O OAO ONtA
is going down the COWS are once more
collected from their pasture in the river
bottom Generally by one of the children
this time, mounted on u sober Old gray
mare who pays S~trictest attention to the
business in hand) the final "chOre" of
milking is got through; and supper, fol.
lowed by reading and games (chess being
a farourite), brings the day to q close.
On Sundays, the big Wagon IA vehicle of
elastic CapabilltieS), is brought to the door,
with saddle. horses for those who prefer
that mode of ira Yelling, and the family
being tightly packed i'll, the cavalcade
starts forth to attend the service at
Oceanside, some six miles drive. The
flannel shirts are now discarded in
favour of immaculate (ceIluloid) linen
the paraSols of the ladies somewhat
incOmmode the driver, but the fierce rays
Of the sun render them IA necessity. Some.
time after church we take a drive on the
fine a Of the beach, and enjoy watching
the long waves of the Pacific come rolling
in. Our horses being young and foolish,
shy at each approaching wave, so that our
track is somewhat circuitOuS. Sometimes
we take our luncheon and picnic Oh the
beach.
Our pleasures are of the simplest descrip-
GlOI Oll ClIddSS anu SuCu OCCdSlOIIS uIC
usually celebrated by II picnic,-there is
no lack of lovely spots to choose from, and
not a dozen days in the year unsuitable
for such u festivity.
Of course, there are many drawbacks to
our truly rural sort of existence mot the
least among them, from a lady's point of
view, being the servant difficulty; but,
OH the other hand, our a are few and
simple. Here one may be Z" passing rich,"
not, perhaps, quite on $40 a year, but still
on what at home would represent the
most Straitened circumstances; and the
enjoyment of that greatest of all blessings,
rude health, joined to "a climate which
renders mere existence a pleasure, weigh
heavily in the balance of compensation.
tor the loss Of many advantages OF civilisa.
toni am, Sir, &C.,
j. W. MORGAN,
San Luis Rey, San Diego Co., California.
February 3rd.