j>4 "^^^E RURAL SOCRATES, 



Different plans prefented themfelves. The iirft and 

 apparently the ihorteil would have been, to have colieded 

 money fufficknt to purchaie at once the cattle, ftraw, 

 and provender requifite for making the manure, which 

 the exhaiifled flatc of the land fcemed to demand ; and 

 to hirp laborers enough to execute the mod preifing im- 

 provements. But this, Kliyogg rejected ; for as he had 

 not himfelf the capital required, he thought it dan- 

 gerous to borrow upon intereft. A bad year might 

 overfet him and ruin his credit, as he had already made 

 great advances in the ontfct of this new. undertaking ; 

 and he knew that envy is never more adive in attack- 

 ing a man of merit, than when fortune opens to him. 

 brilliant profpeds. 



A flower, but Itill a certain method was, to undertake 

 thefe improvements with the hands with which Provi- 

 dence had fo liberally blefled his family ; and to feek 

 for every thing on thefpot. But even this courfe pre- 

 fented very great difficulties, as he required thefe fame 

 hands for working his paternal property ; v/hich if fold, 

 mud be at a difadvantage, fmce it would appear as aA 

 ad: of riccelfuy. As firmnefs and conllancy how- 

 ever, overcome everything, Kliyogg animated himfelf 

 with the hght of his children who were already arrived 

 at their flrength ; and whofe numb^er might be doubled 

 after a time by productive marriages ; for children arc 

 to lione more a real bleifing, than to the laborer. He 

 left therefore his brother at Wcrmctfwcii, with one 

 par: of the family, to coHtinae^ ihe management of their 

 paternal property upon the plan which he had laid 

 down ; and with the other part, he proceeded to take 

 poflellion of the farm wirh a manly courage and with a 

 tirni confidence in the divine alliflance. The fir fl time 

 ihat his fons aHiiled him in ploughing the new lands, 

 they were tranfportcd v/ith plcafure at feeing the length 

 of their farrows ; for all the fields at their former home 

 were in fmali divifions, according to the very perni- 

 cious practice generally feen in our countries, "iliey 

 ■ ■ ' -' " ' ' even 



