62 THE RURAL SOCRATES. 



** their father; the rcfult of it would be, that there 

 *' v/ould only be one profeflion in the world." — '* And 

 ** where woLiId*bc the misfortune if there was not ? re- 

 ^* plied Kliyogg^ with a fmilc. If agriculture was the 

 ** uni'/crfal employment of mankind, and every one 

 ** found his fupport from the labor of his hands, 

 *' v/e (Iiould hear no more of treachery or violence. 

 ** Peace, tranquillity, and contentment of mind and of 

 ** heart would cflabiifh their refidence on earth t For I 

 <« faithfully afRireyoUj Sir, I have never yet met with 

 *' the perfon with whom I would willingly change fitua- 

 <i tions : nor have I ever, to this prefent hour, felt any 

 '< want or the ilighteft inclination to covet the poifeffion 

 *«of what belonged to another!" — ''But your fons, af- 

 ** ter all, can hardly avoid embarrailing each other : 

 *' youreflate (excufeniy repetition of the-queftion) can 

 «* it be fu^icient to maintain them all I — Yes, Sir ; the 

 ■*^ 'produdions of the earth are always in proportion to the 

 *^ culture, I have long been iolicitous to fee my chil- 

 *^ ^\tv\ of a proper age to aflift me in bringing this farm 

 «* to as high a degree of perfedion, as the land is capa- 

 ** ble of; and wlien that is accomplifhed, there yet re- 

 ^^ main large traces of neglected ground in our neighbor- 

 *' hood, which may be purchafed for a trifle, and where 

 *^ we may undertake new improvements. There will 

 *' always be a greater want of laboring hands, than of 

 ** materials to excrcife them upon/' — '' But you are not 

 *' immortal, Kliyogg, and your death may be the caufc 

 *^* of divifion among your children. When your for- 

 «' tune becomes feparated, will they be able with the 

 *^ fmal! allotment afiigned each, to continue their pre- 

 *' fent way of life J" — '' It is precifely for that very 

 *' reafon that they mufl not divide the eftate ; but murt 

 <' ufe their united efforts to keep up its value/' — '' How 

 ^* is that prafticable ? there is no poflibility, that fo ma- 

 *^ ny perfons fhould be moved by the fame inclinations.— 

 ^' Why not, Sir, when experience has taught, that the 

 *' iif^ they lead renders them haj^py and contented, 



