THE RURAL SOCRATES. 13 j 



tcflified to mc yoar happinefs at having entered a 

 family, where abundance reigns, and along with it, 

 joy and quiet ; which, at the lame time you allowed, 

 was the rcfult of the great order eftabliftied in thi^ 

 family, and of the conllant zeal (hewn in it for work.'^ 

 — I confefs it, (he replied,) but one mull take care 

 not to become the ridicule of one's neighbors j and the 

 wedding day of a Ton is a proper time to (hew one's- 

 felf, and to indulge in fome expence^ efpeciaily if one 

 has the means." — '' True ; but if we judge by com- 

 mon opinion, a holiday and the day of a fair or of n 

 village feaft, are alfo privileged days, which admit of 

 more expence and amufsment than other days :'■*— 

 But not fo much (he replied) as a wedding day/^ — 

 There are few people however, (faid I,) who m.ake 

 this difference ; and the zeal with which your father 

 always prevented his children from participating 1:2 

 the diforders of the more ordinary holidays, ones 

 Teemed as ridiculous, as his prefent feverity in re- 

 trenching whatever feems to him ufelefs in the pref- 

 ent wedding. Yet it is to this fame zeal which is fo 

 much cenfured, that you in a great meafure owe the 

 profperity which you enjoy.''' — ^* Certainly (here ex- 

 claimed the honeft: Felix, the brother of Kliyogg, witii. 

 a deep figh) our people revolted, like you, at the fin- 

 guiarities of my brother ; and even attempted to 

 make me go myfelf into debauch ; bur hov/ often do 

 I not blefs God, that I refifted them, and yielded to 

 my brother. Do we not fee the favor of Providence 

 attending us on ail fides?'' — '' I grant, (returned 

 Hans) that this was perfectly right, when you were 

 poor, and your children not of an age to help you ; 

 but, at prefent, when our means are increafed, thefe 

 things ought not to be lb narrov/ly attended to." — 

 But do you want any thing (I faid :) are not you well 

 fed and well clothed : and are you not befides healthy 

 and merry r" — '^ This is all very true (v/as the ani- 

 wer but it Ao^-^ not prevent our being fneered at, 



'^ when 



