The Irnprori'incnt of Country Villages 339 



home, hallowed by purifying influences. It is of use thai 

 every child should be educated, not only in sciences, and 

 arts, and dead languages, but that his affections and his 

 taste should be developed and refined; that the book of 

 nature should be laid open to him; and that he should 

 learn to read her language in the flower and the leaf, written 

 everywhere, in the valley and on the hill-side, and hear it 

 in the songs of birds and the murmuring of the forest. If 

 you would keep pure the heart of your child and make his 

 youth innocent and happy, surround him with objects of 

 interest and beauty at home. If you would prevent a 

 restless spirit, if you would save him from that lowest 

 species of idolatry, 'the love of money,' and teach him to 

 'love what is lovely,' adorn your dwellings, your places of 

 worship, your schoolhouses, your streets and public squares, 

 with trees and hedges, and lawns and flowers, so that his 

 heart may early and ever be impressed with the love of 

 Him who made them all." 



What more can we add to this eloquent appeal from the 

 committee of a farmer's club in a village of New Hampshire? 

 Only to entreat other farmers' clubs to go and do likewise; 

 other ornamental tree societies to carry on the good work of 

 adorning the country; other apostles of taste not to be dis- 

 couraged, but to be unceasing in their efforts, till they see 

 the clouds of ignorance and prejudice dispersing; and, finally, 

 all who live in the country and have an affection for it to take 

 hold of this good work of rural improvement till not a grace- 

 less village can be found from the Penobscot to the Rio 

 Grande, or a man of intelligence who is not ashamed to be 

 found living in such a village. 



