Spade Work
The state of mind of the veteran who is difficilis querulus laudator temporis acti Se puero, is not to be admired ; but there is an occasional exception. An old labourer whom I have known for years as a fine character and a great worker was busy at this busy season digging his garden which is wont to produce its maximum. During a short colloquy—he was too busy to interrupt for long—he said : " The young people won't dig." He did not complain, but just stated an historical fact that was regrettable. If true, it is a heavy charge ; but it is to be hoped that the doggerel imprinted on the envelopes that reached me on the day this was written will belie the old labourer. " Lend a hand on the land " is as necessary in the- allotment and the garden as on the farm.
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