THE FARMER'S MAGAZIN&, 



217 



to contribute to make it so. I have oft pictured to my- 

 self the manner in which most plain practical farmers 

 might spend their Sundays. I once visited one of this 

 class, and stayed over the Sunday. We were all up be- 

 time in the morning, having some miles to travel to 

 church. After an excellent and substantial breakfast, 

 the servants were summoned into the breakfast-room, 

 and, with Testaments in hand, each readily took his 

 accustomed place. The Scriptures were read as in class, 

 and the master concluded with reading an appropriate 

 prayer. This was an excellent preparation for the reli- 

 gious observances of the day. We attended both the 

 morning and afternoon services, which were conducted 

 by the same clergyman (a true man — no Puseyite), but 

 in different churches. In the evening all the household 

 were again summoned, and a continuous reading of the 

 Scriptures again took place, extending over several 

 chapters, followed by family prayer, in which we took 

 the responses. This I have never forgotten, and though 

 it occurred more than thirty years ago, I always recu 

 to the scene with lively interest. Here was occupation 

 in which all took a part, and that with pleasure. One 

 portion of the evening's engagement I had almost for- 

 gotten. The two intelligent servant-lads gave us a very 

 good digest of the sermons of the day, which they had 

 written out, upon which we also made our own remarks- 

 I don't name this as a pattern family, but as one 

 specimen to show how the farmer's family may be pro- 

 fitably and agreeably occupied during the whole of the 

 Sunday. 



If I might venture to point out my idea of what a 

 farmer's Sunday should be, it would be something like 

 the following. It should begin on the Saturday by 

 making every provision for it. The straw and pro- 

 vender for the cattle and horses in the fold-yards should 

 all be got in, and be deposited conveniently for serving 

 out in the morning. The turnips and chaff all cut and 

 ready. The meal for the pigs all mixed, and their styes 

 made all clean and comfortable. The sheep in the field 

 should have a double fold, and their turnips should be 

 all cut and placed close beside the troughs in readiness 

 for filling. The household work should be all finished 

 up for the week, and everything be made tidy and clean. 

 The shoe -boy's knives and forks, his boots and shoes, to 

 be all shining and in their places ; his yards swept and 

 in order. The other servants should contrive their 

 work in their departments to make all look clean and 

 nice, so that all and everything may contribute to make 

 a quiet and peaceful Sabbath. This is a day of rest ; 

 therefore the servants should have the indulgence of an 

 extra hour's repose, which is generally much needed 

 after the toils of the busy week j and when they rise, it 

 is to see a smiling morn free from care and labour. 

 The necessary business of attending to the stock, &c., 

 should be done as quickly and noiselessly as possible ; 

 thus making a marked difi'erence in this respect, so that 

 all shall know it as a day set apart for better purposes. 

 The family assemble for breakfast ; the master reverently 



asking the Divine blessing upon the ample provision, 

 let this meal be partaken with cheerfulness, and sober 

 serious conversation. Immediately afterwards all the 

 available servants ought to be summoned to hear 

 a portion of scripture read, and to engage in 

 family prayer. Then comes the preparation for at- 

 tendance upon Divine service, to which all that 

 can possibly be spared should have the privilege, and 

 be induced to go— the farmer's own family along with 

 him ; the servants, to those places of worship to which 

 they belong or shall prefer ; for no farmer ought to in- 

 fluence or coerce in this respect ; his duty is to ascertain 

 that they do attend at some place where divine service 

 is properly conducted, but no further. Far better for 

 ordinary minds to attend upon a plain Methodist 

 preacher than to hear the sophistries of the new Popish 

 Puseyite preachers. The one may pervert gospel truth 

 through ignorance : the other does it intentionally and 

 systematically as of right divine, and by virtue of 

 apostolic usurpation. The family return with cheerful 

 thankful hearts to partake of the Sunday dinner, all 

 gratified, and impressed with a sense of duty done, and 

 through the Divine blessing of good received. The ser- 

 mon is reviewed, and its precepts further impressed 

 upon each mind. The recognition of friends, and the 

 delight and pleasure of the weekly gathering, are dis- 

 cussed ; and thus the time passes profitably, and each 

 feels better and holier for the morning's occupation, 

 and in gratitude their hearts are lifted up to that God 

 from whom all their blessings flow. 



The Stmday Dinner.— This being a day of rest from 

 worldly toil, as well as for religious observance, and 

 being the only day in the week upon which a farmer's 

 family can comfortably congregate, I think the dinner 

 should be one of somewhat extra character, but easily 

 cooked, and capable of being served without effort. I 

 do not like cold comfortless dinners for the Sunday : I 

 would have everything done that can conduce to make 

 it the best day in the week, all being in subserviency to 

 its divine appointment as set apart for God's service. 



In the afternoon, or evening, as the case may be, 

 again to service, when such members of the family as 

 by domestic and other circumstances were prevented 

 attendance in the morning should now take their privi- 

 leged turn. The evenings, where there is no evening 

 service, to be spent in religious reading or religious con- 

 versation ; and the day to be closed with scripture read- 

 ing and family prayer — the master of the house, ac- 

 cording to scripture, having to officiate as priest in his 

 own family. I name religious reading : the number of 

 exceedingly good and attractive books for Sunday read- 

 ing is immense ; and with the various periodicals and 

 magazines, no family need be long in providing a suit- 

 able supply of readable books. " The Sunday at Home" 

 (Id.), "The British Workman '' (Id.), "The British 

 Messenger " (Id.), are excellent little weekly publica- 

 tions ; and for other similar ones their name is liegiou. 



