l62 MEMOIRS OF 



and, what is scarcely credible, their misery had 

 not softened their manners. These peasants, 

 like the lords of the middle ages, governed by 

 force, hereditary feuds divided families, and 

 more than once gave rise to acts of criminal 

 violence. A pious pastor, named John Frede- 

 rick Oberlin, who has since become so cele- 

 brated, undertook to civilise them ; and for this 

 purpose, like one who knew mankind, he first 

 attacked their poverty. With his own hands he 

 set the example for all useful labours, and, armed 

 with a pickaxe, he directed them in the con- 

 struction of a good road, digging and labouring 

 with them ; he taught them to cultivate the po- 

 tatoe ; he made them acquainted with good 

 vegetables and fruits ; showed them how to en- 

 graft, and gave them excellent breeds of cattle 

 and poultry. Their agriculture once perfected, 

 he introduced manufactures among them, in 

 order to employ superfluous hands ; he gave 

 them a saving-bank, and put them in communi- 

 cation with the commercial houses of the neigh- 

 bouring towns. As their confidence increased 

 with their improvement, he, by degrees, gave 

 them instruction of a higher nature. He himself 

 was their schoolmaster, till he could form one 

 capable of seconding his endeavours. Having 

 once learned to love reading, every thing became 



