.^ 'rHE RURAL SOCRATES e 



^■^ ciaige themfelves with impunity, in luxury * of ap- 

 *' parel, and exccflivfr- gluttony in eating and drinkingl 

 ^' Thus they begin by diflipating their patrimony, and 

 ^' end by defrauding their neighbors. There is, in my 

 ■^^ opinion^ ten times more evil in cheating a man of a 

 *' fingle farthing, that in omitting to hear a fermon. — 

 *' Nbne have a right to expcfb d benedidion from hea- 

 ^' ven, but thofe whofe probity is irreproachable, and 

 *^ their in duflry indefatigable ; and ivho thus earn their 

 ^' bread by the fweat of their brows 1 A diligent huf- 

 ^' bandman knows nt/t what a bad year is, nor fuf- 

 *' fers the ferenity of his mind to be iufHed at ilerms 

 *' andtempefls. ' An indolent one, on the contrary, ex« 

 *' pedis all from Providence ; and complains of the par- 

 *' tiality of fortune, becaiife his har veil is worfe than 

 *' thofe of his induftrious neighbor.— The magifirate of 

 ^' the difl:ri£ts, ought^ oh their fide, to enforce corporal 

 *' puniQimehts and' pecuniary 'fines on perfons, who 

 ** refufe to labor hbtwithHianding the exhortations of the 

 *' clergy. F6r this purpofe, they (hould make frequent 

 *^ and regular circuits in their diftrid:, and examine ac- 

 *' curately the cultui'e of the farms : they fiiould diltin- 

 ^^ guiOi and reward thofe amongjfl: the fubordinate huf- 

 *^ bandmenwho give the nloU: evident proofs of labor 

 ** and application ; whilft they fnould treat with the ut- 

 *' moil feverity, fuch as are notorious for lazinefs and 

 ^' ina«5livity. Good God !'' exclaimed he, *' What would 

 ''' be the profpcrity of thefe cantons, if fuch meafures 

 *' were purfiied 1 and what an abundant enjoyment wc 

 *• fliould have of all the necelfarles of life i"t 



Kliyogg 



'' 'Viany readers may be lurprifed to hear peafanJs accofec^ of luxury in 

 spparel; but thofe who have been in Switzerland, arc fenfible how rnucb 

 the women, in fome diftricis, particularly the unmarried, merit tins !«• 

 p roach, F, 



-' Tb- polic*} of the $mU admitted of iht JiboTC tseafursso 



