THE RURAL SOCRATES. 6t 



<< their labors, and to the enjoyment of the real ncceffaries 

 *' of life ! The moment they enlifl in the army, they 

 *' would find themfelves tranfplanted into a new fcencj. 

 " The cares and fatigues attending a military Jife, would 

 >' to them appear painful and difagreeable : whereas the 

 *' employments of the hufbandman have hitherto been 

 ^' fubniitted to with fatisfaiHiion."-—" Would not the 

 ^^ fam.e thing foon happen in military exercifes ? A mind 

 .^' without prcj jdicc which applies with zeal to the pur- 

 *' fuit of any profeflion (no matter what) will enter into 

 '' it with readinefs, and may beaffured of fucceeding/* 

 ^^ — Be it fo, Sir, but my fon would at lead forget his 

 ^' firfl occupation, to which a variety of circumftances 

 " m'ay oblige him to return; and fiiould this happen, 

 *' could he relume it with the fame ardor and alac- 

 '*' rity I He will have contracted abroad anothet 

 *' fyftem of life; the hour and the nature of his meals 

 *^ will be different ] and, if unfortunately he knows 

 *' not how to lay afide vi^hat cuflom has rendered 

 ^' a fecond nature, his houfe will be the feat of dif- 

 '^ order. Sincerely (peaking, it appears to me fear ce- 

 *' ly poffible for any one to b^ truly happy out of that 

 '' circle of life to which he has been early accuflcmed. 

 *' You would, in all probability, be much to be pitied, 

 " where you reduced to the neceility of dining on the 

 " coarfe food, which furnillies me with a continual 

 *' feafl. And I, on the contrary^ ihould be equally fo, 

 *' were I obliged to habituate myfelf to your delicate 

 '' meats with high fauces : I flionld not enjoy {o good a 



' flate of health, and fhould be far- lef^ contended than 

 '^ with my homely fare. It is the fame thing in regard 

 ^' to labor. I have praclifed bodily labor without re* 

 '^ laxation, day after day ; and I am i^o much the more 

 *' robufl and more difpofed to work : but if I cxercife 

 '^ my m.ind long upon any abflrufe point, it foon brings 

 '-'• on difgufl and fatigue. In fhort cuflom is all. — If I 

 '' am not miflaken in your opinion, my dt^^r Kliyogg, 



^^ that children Ihould alv/ays follow the occupation of 



'^ their 



