190 



SKETCHES OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 



Scripture times, and enforced by scriptural injunctions. 

 "And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou 

 shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy 

 field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any 

 gleaning of thy harvest ; thou shalt leave them unto 

 the poor, and to the stranger." (Lev. xxiii. 22.) 



" When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, 

 and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go 

 again to fetch it ; it shall be for the stranger, for the 

 fatherless, and for the widow : that the Lord thy God 

 may bless thee in all the work of thy hands " (Deut. 

 xxiv. 19.) The spirit of these merciful injunctions is 

 still acted upon, although they are not observed to the 

 letter. Year after year the cheerful gleaners still go 

 forth at early morn, and towards evening return laden 

 with the fruits of their industry. Too often, indeed, 

 the bad conduct of the poor has shut them out from 

 this benefit. Taking it as a matter of right, instead of 

 as an act of kindness on the part of the owner of the 

 fields, they have shown so little gratitude, and have 



