^ THE RURAL SOCRATES. 



^juflom of tnoil peafants. Thus they have no palTion for 

 ihefe things, and ar^j infenfible to all the pleafures of the" 

 tabic except that of appcafing a keen appetite. Indif- 

 ferent in the choice of diet, that to which they are moll 

 iccuftomed, is the mod pleafing to their tafte ; fo that 

 Kliyogg may, without any hazard^ difpenfe with the 

 trouble of locking the clofets or cupboards where he 

 keeps his flores. 



This confidence extends to the box where he keep^ 

 his money ; which is equally open to all the members of 

 the family who are old enough to underftand its ufe and 

 are fuppofed to be equally entitled to a (liare. This 

 communication of wealth occafions every one to avoid/ 

 with the jiiceft circumlpe^ionj the flighteil: appearance 

 of felfiQinefs, and baniflies an immoderate defire of 

 riches ; for they regard money merely as an inflrument 

 that fupplies them with what is neceffary for the wants 

 of the family ; and as they find tbemfclvcs abundantly 

 provided with all that can fatisfy their reafonable wifli- 

 cs, no one entertains a thought of any thing beyond. 



This fad j unifies, in fomemeafurfe, the opmlon which 

 Kliyogg has imbibed ; that their, defcendants may, in 

 all probability, for Tome centuries, continue incorpora- 

 ted in one family. — I have heard him expand upon this 

 idea in a converfation with a friend of mine, in a man- 

 ner fo fatisfadlory, that I cannot forbear relating it. 



My friend, vv^ho had acquired in a foreign fervice, the 

 fortune his merit deferved, had not the lefs regard for 

 his own country as a worthy citizen. Born with high 

 feelings for all that is beautiful or excellent, he came to 

 leek, in the bofom of the mufes, an elevated relaxation 

 from military fatigue. — The moment he heard of the 

 fame of our rural Socrates, he conceived an ardent de- 

 fire to be perfonally acquainted with him ; and I took 

 the firft opportunity to procure him that fatisfaiHrion.— 

 Hs was ftruckwith the fmgular geniu:". of the man, and 



