the days of my life-第58章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e　day　I　hope　that　he　will　appear　again　and　greet　me　in　his　quiet　fashion　as　though　we　had　parted　but　yesterday　—　I　mean；　of　course；　on　this　bank　of　the　great　“Divide。”
Chapter　18　RURAL　ENGLAND
H。　R。　H。　returns　to　the　country　—　Devotes　himself　to　agriculture　—　“Farmer’s　Year”　—　Arthur　Young　—　Bradfield　bust　—　Bobbin　—　Determines　to　follow　Arthur　Young’s　example　—　Agreed　with　Daily　Express　for　series　of　articles　on　Rural　England　—　Visit　to　Cyprus　and　Holy　Land　—　A　Winter　Pilgrimage　—　Rural　England　journeys　—　Heaviest　labour　of　H。　R。　H。‘s　life　—　Arthur　Cochrane’s　help　—　Hundreds　of　interviews　—　Practical　results　disappointing　—　Mr。　R。　W。　Hanbury　—　Agricultural　Post　—　Lord　Onslow　—　Mrs。　Asquith。
My　town　excitement　over　I　returned　to　the　country　and　the　writing　of　books。　Oddly　enough；　I　found　that　the　thorough　change　of　thought　seemed　to　have　rested　my　mind；　with　the　result　that　my　imagination　was　fresher　than　it　had　been　for　some　years　before。　Also　the　work　itself　was　and　has　remained　less　irksome　to　me　than　during　the　years　1891　to　1895。　Still　the　desire　haunted　me　to　do　something　in　my　day　more　practical　than　the　mere　invention　of　romance　upon　romance。　By　degrees　it　came　home　to　me　that　a　great　subject　lay　to　my　hand；　that　of　the　state　of　English　agriculture　and　of　our　rural　population；　also　of　all　the　questions　thereto　pertaining。
So　forcefully　did　it　e　home　that　I　grew　to　think　and　indeed　to　believe　that　I　was　appointed　to　serve　my　own；　and　perhaps　other　countries；　by　following　up　this　neglected　branch　of　research　which　to　many　has　seemed　so　useless　and　so　dull。　Therefore　with　a　bold　heart　I　gave　all　my　spare　time　and　energy　to　a　study　of　the　matter。
First　I　wrote　the　book　that　is　called　“A　Farmer’s　Year；”　with　the　twofold　purpose　of　setting　down　the　struggles　of　those　who　were　engaged　in　agriculture　during　that　trying　time；　and　of　preserving　for　the　benefit　of　future　generations；　if　these　should　care　to　read　of　them；　a　record　of　the　circumstances　of　their　lives　and　of　the　condition　of　their　industry　in　England　in　the　year　1898。　In　its　way　this　book；　which　was　first　published　serially　in　Longman’s　Magazine　—　now；　alas！　defunct；　like　most　of　the　good　magazines　of　my　early　days　—　proved　extraordinarily　successful。　It　ost　without　exception；　with　great　favour。　Also　the　letters　that　poured　in　upon　me　concerning　it　were　almost　without　number；　they　still　continue　to　arrive。　But；　pared　with　my　romances；　it　brought　me　in　but　a　small　amount　of　money。　For　this　there　were　several　reasons。　It　was　published　at　too　low　a　price　—　7s。　6d。　—　whereby　Charles　Longman　and　I　hoped　to　put　it　within　the　reach　of　all；　also　the　charming　illustrations　by　my　friend　Mr。　Leon　Little；　of　which　I　have　the　originals　in　this　house；　involved　a　good　deal　of　expenditure。
The　chief　reason；　however；　is　very　simple。　The　British　public　as　a　whole　is　a　nation　of　town　dwellers　and　not　rural　in　its　tastes。　It　wants　novels　to　read；　not　works　that　deal　with　agriculture　in　however　interesting　a　fashion。　He　who　treats　of　such　subjects　must　do　so　at　his　own　cost　and　be　content　to　take　his　pay　in　honour　and　glory。　Well；　as　I　never　expected　anything　else；　I　was　not　disappointed　in　this　lack　of　financial　results。　My　objects　were；　as　I　have　said；　quite　different。　I　set　them　out　so　clearly　in　the　little　preface　which　I　wrote　some　years　later　for　the　“Silver　Library”　Edition　of　the　work；　that　I　will　venture　to　quote　it　here：
In　Ancient　Egypt　the　gentleman　farmers　of　the　Fifth　and　Sixth　Dynasties　whilst　yet　alive　caused　their　future　sepulchres　to　be　adorned　with　representations　of　such　scenes　of　daily　life　and　husbandry　as　to　them　were　most　pleasant　and　familiar。
The　study　of　these　paintings　and　reliefs　has　delighted　me　much　today；　as　it　did　when　first　I　visited　them　in　1887。　Whilst　considering　them　it　occurred　to　me　that　in　this　book；　by　means　of　the　methods　of　my　own　age；　I　have　unconsciously　attempted　to　follow　the　example　of　the　authors　of　these　rock…hewn　manuscripts　who　lived　some　fifty　centuries　ago。
Perhaps；　I　thought　to　myself；　in　times　to　be；　when　all　is　changed　again　save　the　eternal　ways　of　Nature　that　are　the　ways　of　God；　the　word…pictures　of　my　pages　also　may　thus　interest　and　instruct　unborn　men　of　tastes　akin　to　mine。
Such　is　my　hope。
It　would　please　me　to　write　another　“Farmer’s　Year”　arranged　upon　a　similar　plan；　setting　forth　my　further　agricultural　experiences　throughout　an　entire　year；　now　that　I　farm　on　a　larger　scale　and　more　scientifically　than　I　did；　especially　in　the　matter　of　milk…production。　I　greatly　doubt；　however；　whether　at　my　age　and　with　so　much　work　in　front　of　me；　I　shall　ever　find　the　opportunity；　especially　as　the　production　of　such　a　book　involves　constant　residence　on　one　spot　from　January　to　December。
I　followed　up　“A　Farmer’s　Year”　by　reading　a　paper　on　the　Rural　Exodus　before　the　Norfolk　Chamber　of　Agriculture　on　May　6；　1899；　which　is　printed　at　the　end　of　that　volume；　and　moving　the　following　Resolution　that；　after　discussion；　was　carried　unanimously：
This　Chamber　respectfully　calls　the　attention　of　Her　Majesty’s　Government　to　the　continued　and　progressive　shrinkage　of　the　rural　population　in　the　Eastern　Counties；　and　especially　of　those　adult　members　of　it　who　are　described　as　skilled　agricultural　labourers。
In　view　of　the　grave　and　obvious　national　consequences　which　must　result　if　this　exodus　continues；　the　Chamber　prays　that　Her　Majesty’s　Government　will　as　soon　as　may　be　convenient　make　its　causes　the　subject　of　Parliamentary　inquiry　and　report　with　a　view　to　their　mitigation　or　removal。
On　May　30th　in　the　same　year　I　moved　a　similar　Resolution　before　the　Central　and　Associated　Chambers　of　Agriculture　in　London　where；　after　criticism　and　discussion；　it　was　also　unanimously　carried。
In　January　1900　I　went　with　my　family　to　Florence；　where　we　stayed　with　my　sister…inlaw；　Mrs。　John　Haggard；　whose　husband　was　at　that　time　Consul　in　Noumea；　whither　he　could　not　take　his　children。　It　was　the　year　of　the　Boer　War；　and　a　melancholy　business　I　found　it　to　spell　out　the　tale　of　our　disasters　in　the　Italian　papers。　The　Times　had　asked　me　if　I　would　care　to　go　to　South　Africa　as　one　of　their　war　correspondents；　but　this　did　not　strike　me　as　an　attractive　business　at　my　age。　However；　I　entered　into　another　arrangement　with　Mr。　Arthur　Pearson；　the　owner　of　the　group　of　papers　of　which　the　Daily　Express　is　the　principal。　This　was　that；　on　the　conclusion　of　the　war；　I　should　write　a　series　of　articles　under　the　title　of　“The　New　South　Africa；”　which　would；　of　course；　have　involved　a　long　journey　in　that　country。　This　engagement　was　never　fulfilled；　for　the　reason　that　the　war　carried　on　for　another　two　years　or　so；　before　which　time　the　British　public　was　utterly　weary　of　the　subject　of　South　Africa。　Upon　this　ground　Pearson　suggested　that　the　contract　should　be　cancelled。
In　the　meantime；　however；　while　I　was　taking　my　bath　one　morning　—　a　domestic　occasion　on　which；　for　some　reason　unexplained；　I　have　observed　that　I　am　more　open　to　new　impressions　than　at　any　other　time　—　an　idea　struck　me。　It　was　to　the　effect　that　I　should　like　to　emulate　Arthur　Young；　who　more　than　a　century　before　had　travelled　through　and　written　of　the　state　of　agriculture　in　the　majority　of　the　English　counties。　Second　thoughts　showed　me　that　the　enterprise　was　very　vast。　It　had　taken　Arthur　Young　about　thirty　years；　if　I　remember　right；　not　to　plete　it　—　for　this　neither　he　nor　any　one　else　ever　did　—　but　to　deal　with　about　twenty…six　counties；　travelling　leisurely　on　horseback　and　for　the　most　part；　I　think；　as　an　official　of　what　in　those　days　answered　to　the　present　Board　of　Agriculture。
I　may　add　that　about　a　year　ago　I　paid　a　visit　to　Arthur　Young’s　home；　Bradfield　bust；　more　monly　called　Burnt　Bradfield；　near　Bury　St。　Edmunds；　which　was　then　for　sale。　The　house；　of　course；　is　rebuilt；　but　all　the　rest　—　park；　ancient　oaks；　and　little　lake　—　remain　much　as　they　were　in　his　day；　a　hundred　years　ago。
Readers　of　his　Life　will　remember　how　he　instructed　his　delicate　daughter　—　who　afterwards　died；　poor　child　—　to　walk　in　certain　places；　such　as　in　the　Round　Garden　or　on　the　flagged　path　where　it　was　dry　—　“the　little　garden　where　I　have　so　many　times　seen　her　happy。”
There　they　are　to　this　day；　and；　standing　among　them　alone；　I　could　almost　re…create　the　figure　of　pale　little　Bobbin　as　she　obeyed　the　orders　sent　from　France　in　her　father’s　letters。　There；　too；　is　the　great　avenue　of　limes　which　were；　I　believe；　planted　by　Mr。　Arthur　Young；　running　from　the　house　across　the　timbered　grounds　to　the　highway　by　the　church。　Here　in　the　churchyard　lie　the　mortal　remains　of　this　great　man；　for；　when　his　prescience　and　his　patient　industry　are　taken　into　account；　I　think　he　may　be　fairly　described　as　great。　In　the　church；　actually　underneath　his　pew；　is　buried　his　sweet　Bobbin；　and　on　a　tablet　in　an　annexe　appears　a　touching　memorial　inscription　to　her；　which　I　regret　I　had　no　time　to　copy。　It　does　not；　I　think；　appear　in　the　Life　by　Miss　Betham　Edwards。
How　sadly　read　his　words　written　at　Bradfield　in　the　year　1800：
I　never　e　to　this　place　without　reaping　all　the　pleasure　which　any　place　can　give　me　now。　It　is　beautiful　and　healthy；　and　is　endeared　to　me　by　so　many　recollections；　melancholy　ones　now；　alas！　that　I　feel　more　here　than　anywhere　else。　Here　have　I　lived　from　my　infancy；　here　my　dear　mother　breathed　her　last；　here　was　all　I　knew　of　a　sister；　and　the　church　contains　the　remains　of　my　father；　mother；　and　ever　beloved　child！　Here；　under　my　window；　her　little　garden　—　the　shrubs　and　flowers　she　planted　—　the　willow　on　the　island；　her　room；　her　books；　her　papers。　There　have　I　prayed　to　the　Almighty　that　I　might　join　her　in　the　next　world。
Well；　his　sorrows　are　done　and；　had　she　lived　the　full　life　of　woman；　by　now　Bobbin’s　days　would　have　been　counted　out　twice　over。　Let　us　trust　that　long　ago　her　broken…hearted　father’s　petition　has　been　granted；　and　that　this　pathetic　pair　once　more　walk　hand　in　hand　in　some　celestial　garden；　never　to　be　parted　more。
If　I　may　venture　to　pare　myself　with　such　a　man；　there　is　a　considerable　similarity　between　our　aims　and　circumstances。　We　have　both　been　animated　by　an　overwhelming　sense　of　the　vital　importance　of　British　agriculture　to　this　country　and　its　citizens。　We　are　both　East　Anglians　and　born　of　the　class　of　landed　gentry　or　“squires。”　We　have　both　been　official　servants　of　the　State。　We　have　both　written　novels　and　much　connected　with　the　land。　We　were　both　practical　farmers；　which　many　who　write　on　such　things　are　not；　and　in　the　same　counties。　We　were　both　tall；　thin；　with　pronounced　features；　and　possessed　a　nervous　temperament　and　somewhat　similar　powers　of　observation。　We　both　suffered　a　terrible　loss　that　saddened　our　lives；　though　happily　for　him　the　blow　fell　in　his　later　days。　Both　of　us　have　been　animated　by　the　same　hopes。
Such　are　some　of　the　resemblances；　and　I　dare　say　others　could　be　found；　for　instance；　if　Young　wrote　of　rural　France；　I　have　written　of　rural　Denmark。　Only　I　am　thankful　to　say　I　have　been　spared　his　domestic　separations；　as　I　hope　I　shall　be　spared　his　blindness　and　the　religious　mania；　or　something　approaching　it；　that　darkened　his　last　years。
To　return；　in　the　end　I　determined　to　cling　to　my　inspiration　and　to　follow　old　Arthur　Young’s　example；　if　in　any　way　I　could　manage　to　do　so。
My　chance　came　in　connection　with　this　South　African　agreement。　In　answer　to　Pearson’s　suggestion　that　it　should　be　cancelled；　I　requested　my　agents；　Messrs。　A。　P。　Watt　&　Sons；　to　inform　him　that　I　was　prepared　to　agree；　on　the　condition　that；　in　place　of　it；　he　would　substitute　another　—　namely；　that　the　articles　should　deal　with　rural　England。　Otherwise　I　would　proceed　to　South　Africa；　as　I　had　made　all　my　plans　to　do。　Pearson　considered　and；　in　the　end；　assented。　I　do　not　know　that　he　was　particularly　anxious　to　exploit　rural　England　in　the　columns　of　the　Daily　Express；　but　at　any　rate　it　was　a　fresh　cry；　whereas　that　of　South　Africa　had　bee　very　stale　indeed。
Before　speaking　of　this　matter；　however；　which　only　matured　in　the　beginnings　of　1901；　I　will　return　for　a　moment　to　my　travels　which　menced　at　Florence。　I　had　arranged　verbally　with　Moberly　Bell　of　The　Times　to　visit　Cyprus　and　the　Holy　Land；　and　to　write　for　that　journal　some　articles　upon　the　affairs　of　the　Near　East。　I　did　visit　Cyprus　and　the　Holy　Land；　but　the　articles　were　never　written。　For　this　reason：　I　took　with　me　a　nephew；　now　a　respected　lawyer　verging　on　middle　age　and；　I　may　say；　a　relative　for　whom　I　have　the　greatest　regard　and　the　warmest　affection；　who　was　to　act　as　my　secretary。　But　if　ever　his　eye　should　fall　upon　these　lines　I　hope　he　will　not　be　offended　if　I　add　that　then；　in　the　heyday　of　his　very　fascinating　and　festive　youth；　he　proved　the　most　erratic　secretary　with　whom　I　have　ever　e　in　contact。　I　could　never　find　him　when　I　wanted　him；　and　as　for　the　heavy　typewriter　which　we　dragged　about　with　us；　all　he　did　with　it　was　to　drop　it　on　my　toes　out　of　the　rack　of　a　railway　train。　At　last　I　got　sick　of　the　article；　which　alone　clung　to　us　after　he　had　lost　all　the　luggage　on　the　Italian　railways；　causing　us　to　proceed　to　Cyprus　with　practically　nothing　but　the　clo