4 SKETCHES OP RURAL AFFAIRS. 







earth sends forth a grateful smell, and there to watch 

 proceedings, as 



" Unassisted through each toilsome day, 

 With smiling brow the ploughman cleaves his way, 

 Draws his fresh parallels, and, widening still, 

 Treads slow the heavy dale, or climbs the hill." 



A quiet and easy life does the ploughman seem to 

 lead ; his very -whistle betokens a calm and contented 

 mind. Kegular and slow are his steps ; upright is his 

 posture ; ruddy are his cheeks ; but if you look at him 

 closely, you will observe that his eye is for the most 

 part fixed in one direction. He does not look off from 

 his work ; still less does he look back ; but he keeps a 

 steady gaze in a direct line before him. Is there, then, 

 any difficulty in the ploughman's work requiring this 

 attention ? Is there any art in thus guiding the plough 

 backwards and forwards over the same piece of land for 

 hours ? There is. The art of holding the plough, and 

 directing the horses, simple as it may seem, is only to 

 be acquired by long experience j but when a man has 

 once attained it, he becomes a valuable servant ; and, 

 supposing his character to be otherwise satisfactory, he 

 is sure to rise in the respect and esteem of his master. 

 Much patient and diligent toil must be gone through 

 before a man can become a good hand at the plough : 

 the same may be also said of sowing the seed, which is 

 often the ploughman's work ; but a willing mind, con- 

 stant practice, and a patient attention to orders, will 

 overcome great difficulties. Moreover the ploughman is 

 encouraged to ask the blessing of God upon his labours, 

 for it is written, " Doth the plowman plow all day to 

 sow 1 Doth he open and break the clods of his ground ? 

 When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not 

 cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and 

 cast in the principal wheat, and the appointed barley, 

 and the rie in their place 1 ? For his God doth instruct 

 him to discretion, and doth teach him." (Isaiah xxviii. 

 24, 25, 26.) 



