162 HARVEST SEASON. 



who takes it. I knew one who lost an eye 

 through such a circumstance. 



And now the beer, or some other drink, 

 flows copiously indeed. The heat is great, 

 and the evaporation from the human frame, 

 whilst employed at the same time in severe 

 labour, is such as to require a great supply of 

 drink. It was formerly the practice to drink 

 ardent spirits, and I am sorry to say that the 

 custom is still continued by many. Not a few 

 farmers, however, have discarded them entire- 

 ly, and substituted beer, ale, coffee, or milk and 

 water; and where the experiment has been 

 properly made, the work is better done, and the 

 labourers are far more healthful and far more 

 happy. 



The harvest weeks are indeed a period of 

 toil and solicitude, which none can understand 



