022 
RURAL HOURS. 
ruddy complexion. This old man led a singular life, partaking 
of the retirement and simplicity of that of a hermit, with the 
active benevolence of a different class of men. With children 
living in the village, and calling the house of a daughter his home, 
he loved the quiet solitude of the fields ; and, unwilling to be idle, 
so long as he had strength to work, the good old man applied to 
the owner of the land in this direction for a spot to till ; his 
request was complied with, and he chose a little patch within a 
short walk of the village. Early in the morning, before sunrise, 
he w^ould go out into the woods, frequently remaining out the 
whole day, only bending his steps homeward toward evening. 
Often he might be seen at work with his spade or his hoe, about 
the little field which he was the first man to till ; he made a fence 
of the decayed logs lying about, collected the rubbish and brush- 
wood and burned it, then ploughed, and planted maize and 
potatoes. Often, when missed from his field, he has been found 
sitting among the bushes reading his Bible or his hymn-book, 
or kneeling in prayer. On the hill-side, at no great distance from 
his little clearing, there is a shallow cave, well known in the neigh- 
borhood, and many a summer morning, before the village bell 
has rung for sunrise, the good old man has been kneeling there, 
in earnest prayer for the people of the sleeping town at his feet. 
Much of his time was passed in prayer, in reading the Holy 
Scriptures, and singing pious hymns, with his pleasant old voice. 
He always had a smiling, friendly greeting for his acquaintances, 
and expressed a very warm interest in the children and grand- 
children of those he had known in earlier days ; he never met a 
young person of his acquaintance without some solemn words of 
good advice, and a blessing, given with earnest sincerity. Occa- 
