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NEW ENGLAND FARJVIER. 



Dec. 



rat or mouse during the day, probably, and is 

 now dreaming of her exploits in catching it, 

 as Goldsmith's Old Soldier, 

 "Shouldered his crutch and told how fields were won." 



Let her sleep. She and the children are on 

 excellent terms, and give place to each other, 

 as regards the cozy niches about the fire. 



How delightful the evening temperature, 

 as the family gathers around the lamp, and 

 newspapers and books are opened, the news of 

 the day discussed, and the experiments of 

 Farmer Goit are approved or condemned. 

 This is the gate of knowledge, the foundation 

 and corner stone of improvement and progress. 

 Let us illustrate : 



An acquaintance with the principles of Geol- 

 ogy — even a superficial information of the sci- 

 ence, would do several things for the farmer. 



1. It would confirm in his mind the truth- 

 fulness and wonderful wisdom of the Mosaic 

 account of the formation of this world, and 

 the no less wonderful things which it contains. 



2. Because geology investigates the nature, 

 composition, origin, structure, and arrange- 

 ment of the materials of which the earth is 

 composed. 



3. Btcause the soil we cultivate was once 

 rock, of many kinds, some of them exceeding- 

 ly valuable to the farmer, while others are of 

 little use as producers of crops. 



4. Geology explains what are essential in 

 our soils, so that the farmer understanding 

 this may neglect those lands lacking in fertiliz- 

 ing agent, and improve those which are sup- 

 plied with them. 



For instance : fir and pine trees find a suffi- 

 cient quantity of alkalies in granite and barren 

 soils in which oaks will not grow; and wheat 

 thrive in soils where lime abounds, but not 

 where it is lacking. 



All kinds of grasses contain in the outer 

 part of their leaves and stalks, a considerable 

 portion of sand and potash, — in some form, — 

 which gives them strength to stand erect. 

 But in moist meadows this quality is lacking to 

 a considerable degree. Knowing these facts, 

 the farmer would not plant oaks on sandy bar- 

 rens, nor look for profitable crops of timothy 

 or red top grass on his low meadows. 



These simple illustrations are sufficient. 

 Great is the privilege which these December 

 evenings afford. Let them be improved until 

 all minds are .inspired by the wisdom which 



may be gained. Turn the attention for a sin- 

 gle winter, three times each week to some 

 special topic of instruction, and that mind will 

 soon find itself in a new world of ideas, that 

 will impart substantial comfort and gratifica- 

 tion. 



December is full of appropriate lessons. Il; 

 will yield instruction which will prove profita- 

 ble in preparing the soil and planting in the 

 spring ; in the culture of crops in the summer ; 

 in the early harvest of hay and grains, and the 

 later ones which close up the labours of the 

 field. 



In this inclement season let your charity 

 abound. The poor ye have always with you. 

 So sajs Holy Writ. Let your sympathies, and 

 your acts, go forth into the homely dwellings 

 of the poor, and minister to them as your 

 means will justify. 



"Remernber the poor, for bleak winds are blowing, 



And biightly the frost-pears are j^listening around; 

 The streamlels have ceased all their musical flowing, 



And snow drifts lie scat ered all over \he ground, 

 Remember the poor in tbeir comlortlecs dwelling's, 



III clad and iii-ftd ard o'c-r-burdined wiih tare; 

 Oh, turn not away with a look so lepellint — 



Thy kindripss may eavethem perbapsfrom despair." 

 — Anonymous, 



THE CLOSE OF THE YEAK. 



Every reflecting person will be likely to 

 make this season a halting place in the path- 

 way of life, from which to look back upon the 

 past. 



He will summon before him, in the first 

 place, the blessings which attend us in our 

 highly-favored land, — a land, literally flowing 

 with milk and honey, and all food for man and 

 beast; a fine climate, beautiful changes in the 

 seasons, and a land exempt from the terrible 

 convulsions in nature which overthrow king- 

 doms and decimate the people, in other re- 

 gions of the world, 



He will then call before him his own life for 

 the past twelve months, and bring it to the 

 test of the teachings of the Great Master ; 

 will inquire what examples need correcting; 

 what trains of thought require to be changed 

 into purer and more peaceful currents ; and 

 what harsh, or unkind language should give 

 place to gentleness of speech, and tones of 

 sympathy and love. 



Such a review would be profitable to all. 

 It would tend to establish in the heart the 

 principles of justice, mercy, charity, peace, and 

 set the gates of heaven ajar, so as to give us 

 glimpses of the • 'mansions" which we are told 



