164 THE HOESE AND HIS RIDEE. 



the one of innocence, the other of guilt — as regards their 

 utility to man. 



Wlien a lamb has been nursed, reared, fattened, and 

 killed, its quarters afford say four good dinners, or possibly 

 one dish only at four great dinners, and as soon as, either 

 above stairs or below, his bones have been cleanly picked, 

 the history of his usefulness is at an end. But the 

 benefits which a fox confers upon his country would, 

 though stewed down for hours, require very many more 

 dishes to contain them. 



If an individual migrates in search of happiness, he not 

 only may travel many a weary mile without attaining it, 

 but sooner or later, foot-sore, leg- wearied, and dejected, 

 he will be sure to discover that a very small proportion 

 of the trouble, time, and money he has expended would 

 have procured for him at home contentment or peace 

 of mind, the greatest of all earthly blessings. For truly 

 may it be said, that there exists nothing in a garden or 

 in a field more easy to cultivate than domestic happiness, 

 composed, as we all know, of innumerable small fibres, 

 which, by the laws of Nature, taking root in every direc- 

 tion, attach a man, like GruUiver in the island of Lilliput, 

 to the ground on which he has happened to take rest. 



A cynic may sneer at the rich man who, with his own 

 hands, and with bent back, sows flowers to deck his path, 

 and who plants trees to grace shrubberies to harbour the 



