PHASES OF FARM LIFE. 269 



ficial life breed out of a man like farming, like direct 

 and loving contact with the soil. It draws out the 

 poison. It humbles him, teaches him patience and 

 reverence, and restores the proper tone to his system. 



Cling to the farm, make much of it, put yourself 

 into it, bestow your heart and your brain upon it, so 

 that it shall savor of you and radiate your virtue after 

 your day's work is done ! 



" Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, 

 and look well to thy herds. 



" For riches are not forever ; and doth the crown 

 endure to every generation ? 



" The hay appeareth, and the tender grass showeth 

 itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. 



" The lambs are for thy clothing and the goats are 

 the price of the field. 



" And thou shalt have goat's milk enough for thy 

 food, for the food of thy household, and for the main- 

 tenance for thy maidens." 



