His procedure
is characteristic. No exercise is taken in the morning, save the daily
walk to morning service but between 3 and 4 in the afternoon he sallies
forth, axe on shoulder, accompanied by one or more of his sons. The
scene of action reached, there is no pottering; the work begins at once,
and is carried on with unflagging energy. Blow follows blow, delivered
with that skill which his favourite author {33a} reminds us is of more
value to the woodman than strength, together with a force and energy that
soon tells its tale on the tree
* * * * Illa usque minatur
Et tremefacta comam concusso vertice nutat,
Vulneribus donec paulatim evicta supremum
Congemuit, traxitque jugis avulsa ruinam.
_Virgil OEn II._ 626
"It still keeps nodding to its doom,
Still bows its head and shakes its plume,
Till, by degrees o'ercome, one groan
It heaves, and on the hill lies prone."
_Conington's Translation_.
At the advanced age he has now attained, it can hardly be expected that
Mr. Gladstone can very frequently indulge in what has been his favourite
recreation for the past twenty-five years. The present winter {34}
however saw the fall of at least one large tree, in which he took a full
share--a Spanish chestnut, measuring 10ft. at the top of the face, and
those who were present can testify to the undiminished vigour with which
the axe was wielded on that occasion.
Pages:
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45