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RURAL HOURS. 
fluences are all beneficial ; it usually makes people more indus- 
trious, and more amiable. Persuade a careless, indolent man to 
take an interest in his garden, and his reformation has begun. Let 
an idle woman honestly watch over her own flower-beds, and she 
will naturally become more active. There is always work to be 
done in a garden, some little job to be added to yesterday's 
task, without which it is incomplete ; books may be closed with a 
mark where one left off, needlework may be thrown aside and re- 
sumed again ; a sketch may be left half finished, a piece of music 
half practiced ; even attention to household matters may relax in 
some measure for a while ; but regularity and method are con- 
stantly required, are absolutely indispensable, to the well-being of 
a garden. The occupation itself is so engaging, that one com- 
mences readily, and the interest increases so naturally, that no 
great share of perseverance is needed to continue the employment, 
and thus labor becomes a pleasure, and the dangerous habit of 
idleness is checked. Of all faults of character, there is not one, 
perhaps, depending so entirely upon habit as indolence ; and no- 
where can one learn a lesson of order and diligence more pret- 
tily and more pleasantly than from a flower-garden. 
But another common instance of the good effect of gardening 
may be mentioned : — it naturally inclines one to be open-handed. 
The bountiful returns which are bestowed, year after year, upon 
our feeble labors, shame us into liberality. Among all the misers 
who have lived on earth, probably few have been gardeners. 
Some cross-grained churl may set out, perhaps, with a determina- 
tion to be niggardly with the fruits and flowers of his portion ; 
but gradually his feehngs soften, his views change, and before he 
hais, housed the fruits of many summers, he sees that these good 
