BKITAIN FOR THE BRITON 



CHAPTER I 



THE BIRTH OF AGRICULTURE 



In that far-away time slirouded by the mists of an unknown 

 past, when order was born of chaos and darkness was divided 

 into night and day, it is conceivable that land and water arose 

 out of the prevailing confusion and became the most conspicuous 

 feature in the mighty plan of creation. Lofty mountains reared 

 themselves far into the overhanging canopy of space, while vast 

 abysses of appalling depth opened up at their feet and formed 

 themselves into valleys and dells. Land and water, even in 

 those days of unknown antiquity, formed the chief features of 

 this terrestrial sphere, and were intended by the Creator to play 

 the chief part in the economy of human life. 



In the old story of the creation, so simply and yet so 

 beautifully told in the first chapter of Genesis, we read that 

 man himself was formed out of " the dust of the ground," and 

 that the Creator's command to him was to " replenish the earth 

 and subdue it." Further, it is said — 



" And the Lord God took the man, and pub him into the garden 

 of Eden, to dress it and to keep it." 



In these days of educational progress and liigh intellectual 

 culture many persons disbelieve the old story of the Christian 

 Bible, and regard it altogether as a myth or as the picturesque 

 imagination of some ancient Hebrew scholar ; but the cardinal 

 fact that stands out so prominently here is that, even in those 

 days of hoary antiquity, the land, agriculture, husbandry, were 

 evidently regarded as man's particular heritage, and that they 

 were to be his chief concern and to furm his chief occupation. 



This fact established, it matters not whether this ancient 

 Hebrew scribe wrote under Divine inspiration or from his own 



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