ry, and was what
is usually termed a "self-made man." He was born in a little hut
consisting of "wattle and dab," and as soon as he could make himself
heard was sent into the fields to "mind the birds." Early in the
November mornings, immediately after the winter sowings, he would be seen
with his little bag of brown bread round his neck, trudging along with a
merry whistle, as happy as if he had been going home to a bright fire and
a plentiful breakfast of ham, eggs, and coffee. By degrees he had raised
himself to the position of ploughman, and never ploughman drove a
straighter or leveller furrow. He had won prizes at the annual ploughing
and harrowing matches: and upon the strength of ten and sixpence a week
had married Nancy Tugby, to whom he had been engaged off and on for
eleven years. Nancy was a frugal housewife, and worked hard, morning,
noon and night. She was quite a treasure to Bumpkin; and, what with
taking in a little washing, and what with going out to do a little
charing, and what with Tom's skill in mending cart-harness (nearly all
the cart-harness in the neighbourhood was in a perpetual state of
"mendin'"), they had managed to put together in a year or two enough
money to buy a sow. This, Tom always said, was "his first start." And
mighty proud they both were as they stood together of a Sunday morning
looking at this wonderful treasure. The sow soon had pigs, and the pigs
got on and were sold, and then the money was expended in other things,
which in their turn proved equally remunerative. Then Tom got a piece of
land, and next a pet ewe-lamb, and so on, until little by little wealth
accumulated, and he rented at last, after a long course of laborious
years, from the Squire, a small homestead called "Southwood Farm,"
consisting of some fifty acres. Let it not be supposed that the
accession of an extra head of live stock was a small matter. Everything
is great or little by relation. I believe the statesman himself knows no
greater pleasure when he first obtains admission to the Cabinet, than Tom
did when he took possession of his little farm. And he certainly
experienced as great a joy when he got a fresh pig as any young barrister
does when he secures a new client.

Southwood Farm was a lovely homestead, situated near a very pretty river,
and in the midst of the most picturesque scenery. The little rivulet
(for it was scarcely more) twisted about in the quaintest conceivable
manner, almo