the life of william carey-第70章
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Cleghorn at various times visited this arboretum； and have referred to the trees； whose date of planting is known； for the purpose of recording the rate of growth。
For the loved garden Carey himself trained native peasants who； with the mimetic instinct of the Bengali； followed his instructions like those of their own Brahmans； learned the Latin names； and pronounced them with their master's very accent up till a late date； when Hullodhur； the last of them； passed away。 The garden with its tropical glories and more modest exotics； every one of which was as a personal friend； and to him had an individual history； was more than a place of recreation。 It was his oratory； the scene of prayer and meditation； the place where he began and ended the day of lightwith God。 What he wrote in his earlier journals and letters of the sequestered spot at Mudnabati was true in a deeper and wider sense of the garden of Serampore：〃23rd September； Lord's Day。Arose about sunrise； and； according to my usual practice； walked into my garden for meditation and prayer till the servants came to family worship。〃 We have this account from his son Jonathan：
〃In objects of nature my father was exceedingly curious。 His collection of mineral ores； and other subjects of natural history； was extensive； and obtained his particular attention in seasons of leisure and recreation。 The science of botany was his constant delight and study； and his fondness for his garden remained to the last。 No one was allowed to interfere in the arrangements of this his favourite retreat； and it is here he enjoyed his most pleasant moments of secret devotion and meditation。 The arrangements made by him were on the Linn鎍n system； and to disturb the bed or border of the garden was to touch the apple of his eye。 The garden formed the best and rarest botanical collection of plants in the East； to the extension of which； by his correspondence with persons of eminence in Europe and other parts of the world； his attention was constantly directed； and； in return； he supplied his correspondents with rare collections from the East。 It was painful to observe with what distress my father quitted this scene of his enjoyments； when extreme weakness； during his last illness； prevented his going to his favourite retreat。 Often； when he was unable to walk； he was drawn into the garden in a chair placed on a board with four wheels。
〃In order to prevent irregularity in the attendance of the gardeners he was latterly particular in paying their wages with his own hands； and on the last occasion of doing so； he was much affected that his weakness had increased and confined him to the house。 But； notwithstanding he had closed this part of his earthly scene； he could not refrain from sending for his gardeners into the room where he lay； and would converse with them about the plants； and near his couch； against the wall； he placed the picture of a beautiful shrub； upon which he gazed with delight。
〃On this science he frequently gave lectures； which were well attended； and never failed to prove interesting。 His publication of Roxburgh's Flora Indica is a standard work with botanists。 Of his botanical friends he spoke with great esteem； and never failed to defend them when erroneously assailed。 He encouraged the study of the science wherever a desire to acquire it was manifested。 In this particular he would sometimes gently reprove those who had no taste for it； but he would not spare those who attempted to undervalue it。 His remark of one of his colleagues was keen and striking。 When the latter somewhat reprehended Dr。 Carey； to the medical gentleman attending him； for exposing himself so much in the garden； he immediately replied； that his colleague was conversant with the pleasures of a garden； just as an animal was with the grass in the field。〃
As from Dinapoor； so from Serampore after his settlement there； an early order was this on 27th November 1800：〃We are sending an assortment of Hindoo gods to the British Museum； and some other curiosities to different friends。 Do send a few tulips； daffodils； snowdrops； lilies； and seeds of other things； by Dolton when he returns； desiring him not to put them into the hold。 Send the roots in a net or basket； to be hung up anywhere out of the reach of salt water； and the seeds in a separate small box。 You need not be at any expense； any friend will supply these things。 The cowslips and daisies of your fields would be great acquisitions here。〃 What the daisies of the English fields became to Carey； and how his request was long after answered； is told by James Montgomery； the Moravian； who formed after Cowper the second poet of the missionary reformation：
THE DAISY IN INDIA
〃A friend of mine； a scientific botanist； residing near Sheffield； had sent a package of sundry kinds of British seeds to the learned and venerable Doctor WILLIAM CAREY。 Some of the seeds had been enclosed in a bag； containing a portion of their native earth。 In March 1821 a letter of acknowledgment was received by his correspondent from the Doctor； who was himself well skilled in botany； and had a garden rich in plants； both tropical and European。 In this enclosure he was wont to spend an hour every morning； before he entered upon those labours and studies which have rendered his name illustrious both at home and abroad； as one of the most accomplished of Oriental scholars and a translator of the Holy Scriptures into many of the Hindoo languages。 In the letter aforementioned； which was shown to me； the good man says：'That I might be sure not to lose any part of your valuable present； I shook the bag over a patch of earth in a shady place： on visiting which a few days afterwards I found springing up； to my inexpressible delight； a Bellis perennis of our English pastures。 I know not that I ever enjoyed； since leaving Europe； a simple pleasure so exquisite as the sight of this English Daisy afforded me； not having seen one for upwards of thirty years； and never expecting to see one again。'
〃On the perusal of this passage； the following stanzas seemed to spring up almost spontaneously in my mind； as the 'little English flower' in the good Doctor's garden； whom I imagined to be thus addressing it on its sudden appearance：
〃Thrice welcome； little English flower！ My mother…country's white and red； In rose or lily； till this hour； Never to me such beauty spread： Transplanted from thine island…bed； A treasure in a grain of earth； Strange as a spirit from the dead； Thine embryo sprang to birth。
〃Thrice welcome； little English flower！ Whose tribes； beneath our natal skies； Shut close their leaves while vapours lower； But； when the sun's gay beams arise； With unabashed but modest eyes； Follow his motion to the west； Nor cease to gaze till daylight dies； Then fold themselves to rest。
〃Thrice welcome； little English flower！ To this resplendent hemisphere； Where Flora's giant offspring tower In gorgeous liveries all the year： Thou； only thou； art little here； Like worth unfriended and unknown； Yet to my British heart more dear Than all the torrid zone。
〃Thrice welcome； little English flower！ Of early scenes beloved by me； While happy in my father's bower； Thou shalt the blythe memorial be； The fairy sports of infancy； Youth's golden age； and manhood's prime。 Home； country； kindred； friends；with thee； I find in this far clime。
〃Thrice welcome； little English flower！ I'll rear thee with a trembling hand： Oh； for the April sun and shower； The sweet May dews of that fair land。 Where Daisies； thick as starlight； stand In every walk！that here may shoot Thy scions； and thy buds expand A hundred from one root。
〃Thrice welcome； little English flower！ To me the pledge of hope unseen： When sorrow would my soul o'erpower； For joys that were； or might have been； I'll call to mind； how； fresh and green； I saw thee waking from the dust； Then turn to heaven with brow serene； And place in GOD my trust。〃
》From every distant station； from Amboyna to Delhi； he received seeds and animals and specimens of natural history。 The very schoolboys when they went out into the world； and the young civilians of Fort William College； enri
