Psychology of Country Life. 41 



• 



the English and German custom of simple living, and discard, if 

 necessary (which it probably is not), both pies and cakes for free- 

 dom and smiling faces. Living to gratify only the animal wants 

 is a very low form of existence. L^t us not sell the soul to the 

 body, but have higher aims and aspirations, for God has planted 

 them in our hearts. 



"Then sing the song that gladdens — 



Leave out the sad refrain ; 

 Raise up the drooping spirit, 



And thou'll not have lived in vain. 

 O, glorious life ! to feel the thrill, 



To live, to work, and sing! 

 O, golden hours ! drift slowly by ; 



Life is a priceless thing." 



One of the most encouraging signs of the times is that women 

 as well as men, are becoming deeply interested in self-culture. 

 Thousands of women are taking the Chatauqua, or Boston course 

 of study, and graduating at home. Clubs or societies for the 

 study of art, history, botany, natural history, and household 

 science, are being established in every city and village; and 

 why should the people of the country-town be behind. Can- 

 not every country-town organizs and sustain a society or club of 

 men and women students, who will come together weekly, semi- 

 weekly, or monthly, on Saturday nights, after the week's work is 

 done, to study from the book of nature, as it is opened and re- 

 vealed to them day after day? Nowhere can natural science and 

 natural history be so successfully studied as in the open field3, 

 deep waters, and quiet woods of the country. A year's careful 

 study, at times not missed from the daily avocations of life, 

 would give a "paradise of intellectual enjoyment" unknown 

 before. 



People living in the country should make friends with nature. 

 Then there can be no such thing as isolation ; for nature is a com- 

 panion and teacher that speaks a thousand tongues to her ad- 

 mirers as she constantly unfolds her mysteries that are so old — 

 yet ever new. Wordsworth says : 



"Nature never did betray 

 The heart that loved her; 'tis her privilege 

 Through all the years of this our life to lead 

 From joy to joy ; for she can so inform 



