328 



Go forth into the Fields. — Cutting Grain. 



Vol. V. 



the last liour of his life, confessed his guilt. 

 He denied being a drunkard, yet acknow- 

 ledged that he sometimes got drunk. James 

 Williams, lately executed at the Moyamen- 

 sing jail for murder, informed the Sheriff that 

 he was not conscious of the murder ; yet he 

 acknowledged he was drinking gin just be- 

 fore the event. 



Having already extended this article be- 

 yond the limits originally designed, I shall 

 omit a number of statistical facts which I 

 had noted as bearing upon the subject. Some 

 of those facts relate to tiie immense destruc- 

 tion of bread-stuffs in the manufocture of 

 ardent and fermented liquors; and the great 

 addition to the public expenses, in the shape 

 of contributions to charitable institutions, and 

 in the prosecution of criminals, which the 

 consumption of strong drink annually occa- 

 sions. 



A careful examination of this subject leads 

 to the conclusion, that the revenue derived 

 from license to sell intoxicating liquors, is a 

 very small fraction of the expense, entailed 

 on the public by their sale. 



As the advantages to be obtained from 

 even the temperate use of alcoholic drink, 

 are exceedingly small, if, indeed, there are 

 any at all; and the evils arising from the 

 excessive use incalculable and overwhelm- 

 ing; and as the intemperate use springs pri- 

 marily from the moderate, and is supported 

 by those men of character and respectability 

 who use the article in moderation ; it is evi- 

 dently the part of wisdom, perhaps I might 

 say, it is the imperious duty, of the friends 

 of our race, to exert their influence, wher- 

 ever it can be felt, to expel the evil of drunk- 

 enness from our land, in the only way in 

 which it can be effectually done, by discoun- 

 tenancing the temperate use of intoxicating 

 liquor. 



If the farmers of the present day, would 

 universally adopt the conclusion, and rigidly 

 adhere to it, to sell none of the produce of 

 their fields to be converted into intoxicating 

 liquor, and to purchase none, when manufac- 

 tured or imported, their example would un- 

 questionably be felt in every department of 

 society. By this course they would dry up the 

 most prolific source of mendicity and crime ; 

 and furnish cause, when they themselves 

 are gathered to their fathers, for those who 

 may occupy their places, to rise up and call 

 them blessed. 



An Old Farmer. 



If there be any " universal medicine" in 

 nature, it is water, for by its assistance all 

 distempers are alleviated or cured, and the 

 body preserved sound and free from corrup- 

 tion — that enemy to life. 



Go Forth into the Fields. 



Go forth into the fields, 

 Ye, denizens of the pent city's mart ; 

 Go forth, and know tlio gladness nature yields 



To the care-wearied heart. 



Leave ye the feverish strife. 

 The jostling', eafjer, selfdevnted throng; 

 Ten thousand voices waked anew to life. 



Call you with sweetest song. 



Hark ! from each fresh-clad hough, 

 Or blissful snaring in the golden air, 

 Bright hirds with joyous music, bid you now 



To spring's loved haunts repair. 



The silvery gleaming rills. 

 Lure with soft nniniiurs from the grassy lea; 

 Or gaily dancing down the sunny hills. 



Call loudly in their glee ! 



And the young wanton breeze. 

 With breath all odorous from her blossomy chase. 

 In voice low whispering, 'mong the embowering trees, 



Woos you to her embrace. 



Go breathe the air of heaven. 

 Where violets meekly smile upon your way ; 

 Or on some pine-crown'd summit, tempest driven, 



Your wandering footsteps stray. 



Seek ye the solemn wood, 

 Whose giant trunks a verdant roof uprear, 

 And listen, while the roar of some far flood 



Thrills the young leaves with fear ! 



Stand by the tranquil lake. 

 Sleeping 'mid willowy banks of emerald dye. 

 Save vvlien the wild ijird's wings its surface break. 



Chequering the mirror'd sky — 



And if within your breast, 

 Hallow'd by nature's touch one chord remain ; 

 If au^-ht save worldly honours find you blest, 



Or liope of sordid gain — 



A strange delight shall thrill, 

 A quiet joy brood o'er you like a dove ; 

 Earth's placid beauty shall your bosom fill. 



Stirring its deptiis with love. 



Oh, in the calm, still hours. 

 The holy Sabbath hours, when sleeps the air. 

 And heaven a lulearthdeck'd with her beauteous flowers. 



Lie husli'd in breathless prayer — 



Pass ye the proud fane by. 

 The vaulted aisles, by flaunting folly trod. 

 And 'neath the temple of uplifted siiy, 



Go forth and worship God. 



Proper Season for Cutting Grain. 



It is a good practice to cut every kind of 

 grain rather before it is fully ripe in the grain 

 or the straws. In a fine season, some farm- 

 ers cut their crops when they find the neck 

 of the straw immediately under the ear, free 

 of juice when twisted round between the 

 finger and thumb, and do not wait until the 

 lower part of the stems are dry and yellow, 

 because they find in such a season the straw 

 to die from the ear downwards. In a had 

 season, on the other hand, the lower part of 

 the stem first becomes yellow and dry ; after 

 which, of course, the crop is not allowed to 

 stand, for in such a season the ear never be- 

 comes mature, having less absorptive power, 

 whilst the vitality of the root is early de- 

 stroyed by the combined effects of bad wea- 

 ther and an ungenial state of the soil. — Quar. 

 Jour. Ag. 



