CHARACTER OF A GOOSE.

Knowest thou not that I have power

To make and mar in heaven and hell,
In earth, and every creature:-
Whatsoever I do it must be well.'"

"Oh, papa, pray go on!" said Frank.

85

"I remember no more, my dear. Ellen, look at that goose, foraging for itself in the pocket of our postillion, who is going to water the mules."

"I had no idea, papa, a goose could be so tame."

"What!" said Edward, "do you abuse geese, Ellen? do you not know they are the most sagacious of birds, and saved the capital of the world-imperial Rome ?"

"I do not know what they saved; but they have always appeared to me, Edward, very shy, stupid birds."

"You are wrong, my dear," said her mother: "a goose may really be called a bird of delicate sentiment, and strong affections."

"You will agree that a tame bird is never so fine of its kind, or so well known as to its original habits as a wild one."

"Yes, mamma; but what do we know of wild geese? here they are always, to a certain degree, tame."

"The goose, my dear, is found wild in Canada. When wounded they readily domesticate them

86

ITS STRENGTH OF MEMORY

selves with the tame grey goose. Mr. Platt, a respectable farmer, in Long Island, being out shooting in one of the bogs, which in that part of the country abound with water-fowl, wounded a wild goose. Being wing-tipped, and unable to fly, he caught it, and brought it home alive. It proved a hen-bird; and turning it into his yard with a flock of tame geese, it soon became quite familiar, and in a little time the wounded wing healed entirely. In the following spring, when the wild geese migrate to the northward, a flock passed over Mr. Platt's barn-yard; and just at that moment the leader happening to give his wellknown call, our goose, in whom its new habits had not quite extinguished the love of liberty, spread its wings, mounted into the air, joined the travellers, and soon disappeared. In the succeeding autumn the wild geese, as was usual, returned to the Canadian bogs and rivers, to pass the winter. Mr. Platt happened to be standing in his yard when a flock passed directly over his barn. At that instant he observed three geese detach themselves from the main body; and after whirling round several times, alight in the middle of his yard. Imagine his surprise and pleasure, when, by certain well-remembered signs, he recognized in one of the three his long-lost fugitive. She had travelled many hundred miles to the lakes; had there hatched and reared her offspring;

OFTEN CALUMNIATED.

87

and now returned, with her little family, to share the sweets of civilized life."

"O mamma! I was quite wrong," said the delighted Ellen. "I love the bird so much for returning, that I should be quite sorry if it had not flown away."

"I cannot tell how the poor geese have got such a reputation for folly," said Mrs. Delville; "but it matters little to them; though it highly concerns us not to adopt every common prejudice, without first submitting it to the test of reason and experience. As far as my observation has gone, I should say that the goose was an honest bird, the steadiness of whose affections may be thoroughly depended upon."

"And I," said Ellen, " will henceforth take their character from your experience, mamma; but still I am afraid," she added, laughing, "that the poor geese will be but geese in the eyes of a great part of the world."

"They shall be what you like," said her father, "all the rest of the year; but let them appear in their proper form and character on Michelmasday."

The attention of the party was now diverted by their entrance into Santa Maria de Nieva, a town consisting of about six hundred houses. The inhabitants reckon among their superior advantages, the possession of a miraculous image of the Virgin

88

UNWISE RESTRICTIONS.

Mary, and the privilege of an annual bull-fight. It is situated on an eminence, from which a large extent of country may be discovered, in which there is neither running water, trees, verdure, nor country-houses; nothing but immense fields of wheat on every side.

"This place," said Mr. Delville, “has the uncommon advantage of having full permission to sell all kinds of eatables. In Spain the sovereign exercises a most unwise controul over the industry of individuals and the price of provisions. These things, left to the public, would find their natural and proper level. None would continue to raise what they found they could not sell, nor ask higher profits than they could obtain. By these restrictions Spain has taken away the principal stimulus of labour-the hope of gain. For he who knows that, with all his diligence, he can only obtain a fixed and moderate profit, whatever may have been his good or ill success, will never trouble himself to raise more than will enable him to live. One of the reasons of the bad accommodations of the Spanish inns, is the restrictions on the innkeepers, who are, in most cases, forbidden to keep poultry and pigs, and prevented asking more than a fixed price for every meal. Travellers are rare in Spain; and if the innkeeper has no home-provision for him, he must purchase what he wants. This the man is

THE EFFECTS OF INDOLENCE.

89

unwilling to do at a risk; and consequently he makes no preparation till the traveller presses him to do so. The perfect freedom which every one enjoys in England, in this respect, has, together with the demand, created all the civility, ease, and luxurious provision found at an English inn."

"And luxurious prices," said Mrs. Delville, with a smile.

"True. But still, as Lubin Log says, 'This is optional.' Inferior accommodation may be procured at an inferior price. Nor would the highest sums be asked if they were not readily given."

"This seems a fine cultivated country," said Edward.

"Yes; but notwithstanding the riches of the soil, the inhabitants are poor, nor have they any desire to be otherwise. Deprived of all power of comparing their country, or their situation with that of strangers, they appear to have neither a knowledge nor a relish for better things. They have no idea of embellishing any thing they possess. A pleasure or a kitchen-garden is to them an unnecessary luxury, though they might have both with ease. Their voluntary idleness deprives them of many comforts; and thus they will continue, till roads, canals, and easy means of conveyance, shall have introduced new ideas among them, and taught them the sweets of commerce."

While Mr. Delville was speaking, their driver