LEASING. 367 



are accustomed to attribute all our evils of this 

 nature to the "blasting of the east wind;" yet 

 we find all aspects and places obnoxious to it : one 

 situation may be exempted for a period of many 

 years from such visitations, when others suffer ; on 

 a sudden, a partial or a local stream of hot, cold, 

 salt, or what we denominate a pestilential wind, 

 sweeps along, and it is destroyed. 



Surrounded by and situate in the midst of an 

 agricultural district, we are ea'ger and persevering 

 " leasers " here ; and it becomes in a certain de- 

 gree profitable to our poor, though they cannot 

 hope, like the dutiful Ruth, to gather their three 

 pecks and over in the day. It may be difficult to 

 comprehend how the picking up a head of corn 

 here, and another there, should be a remunerative 

 employ ; but in this case, like all other slow opera- 

 tions, a distant result, rather than an instant effect, 

 must be looked for. I have found some little 

 difficulty in obtaining intelligence sufficient to ac- 

 quire a knowledge of the gain by this employ. 

 The poor are often jealous and suspicious of the 

 motives, when any attempts are made to procure 

 information regarding their profits or improve- 

 ments ; and indeed the advantages of one year are 

 uncertain in another. Catching, doubtful seasons, 

 when the farmer collects in haste, and is unmindful 

 of trifles, afford the best harvest to the gleaner. 

 In fine, settled weather, the operation of reaping is 

 conducted with more deliberation, and less corn is 

 scattered about. When a woman with two or 



