20 TRANSACTIONS. 



above the follies, but the enjoyments of life. Another finds 

 that the luxury and leisure of great wealth and fashion, when 

 time has disrobed them of their novelty, and cooled the pas- 

 sions, bring little with them but a tasteless and wearisome 

 round of heartless pursuits ; while the stream of happiness, 

 which he was just ready to quaff, is dried up, leaving only the 

 empty channel, like the streams of the desert, to mock desire. 

 In short, men of all professions, especially the most elevated, 

 as the evening of life approaches, turn their thoughts with 

 strong desire to the quiet and healthful scenes of agricultural 

 life ; and find in its peaceful labors that modicum of enjoy- 

 ment, which they have sought in vain in other pursuits. There 

 have many of earth's greatest and best, found new chords of 

 pleasure to awake and vibrate, after all artificiat pleasures had 

 become insipid and disgusting. There have they found how 

 much truth and beauty there is in the poet's well known eulo- 

 gium upon the farmer's lot. 



" Ah happy swain ! ah race beloved of heaven ! 

 If known thy bliss, how great the blessing given ! 

 True peace is thine ; and life that knows no change, 

 And various wealth through nature's boundless range. 

 Content and patience youth's long toil assuage, 

 Repose and reverence tend declining age ; 

 There gods yet dwell, and, as she lied mankind. 

 There Justice left her last lone trace behind." 



The connection between agricultural pursuits and correct 

 moral habits, is most striking and important. The untiring 

 industry and occupation demanded by these pursuits, were 

 enough to take away half the temptations to vice, by which 

 men are overcome ; for it is a truth none the less valuable be- 

 cause it occurs in a nursery song, — 



" That Satan finds some business still 

 For idle hands to do." 



Then the proper development of the physical system, which 

 is the result of systematic labor in the open air, and of plain 

 food, prevents that precocious manifestation of the appetites 

 and passions, and their unnatural excitement, which are the 

 curse of sedentary life, and break down so early so many con- 



