THE FARM-¥YARD JOURNAL.

Dear Tom,—Since we parted at the breaking-up,
I have been most of the time at a pleasant farm in
tlertfordshire, where I have employed myself in ram-
bling about the country, and assisting, as well as I
could, in the work gomg on at home and in the fields.
- On wet days, and in the evenings, I have amused
myself with keepmg a journal of all the great events
that have happened among us; and, hoping that when
you are tired of the bustle of your busy town, you may
recelve some entertainment from comparing our
transactions with yours, 1 have copied out for your
perusal one of the days in my memorandum-book.

Pray let me know, in return, what you are doing,
and believe me, |

Your very affectionate friend,
| RicoarpD MARKWELL.’
Hlazel-Harm.
JOURNAL. |

June 10th. Last night we had a dreadful alarm.
A. violent scream was heard from the hen-roost; the
geese all set up a cackle, and the dogs barked. Ned,
the boy who les over the stable, jumped up and ran
into the yard, when he observed a fox galloping away
_ with a chicken in his mouth, and the dogs in full chase
after him. They could not overtake him, and soon re-
turned. Upon further examination, the large white
cock was found lying on the ground, all bloody, with
his comb torn almost off, and his feathers al) ruffled,
and the speckled hen and three chickens lay dead
beside him. The cock recovered, but appeared terribly
frightened. It seems that the fox had jumped over
the garden hedge, and then, crossing part of the yard
behind the straw, had crept into the hen-roost through
a broken pale. John the carpenter was sent for, to
make all fast, and prevent the like mischief again,