To conquer the barrenness of the soil and obviate the coldness of the climate, it was necessary to 
ensure a certain degree of knowledge. For this purpose schools were regularly organized, a library formed 
for the private use of the children, a collection of indigenous plants arranged, an electrical machine 
and mathematical instruments procured, and the whole organized under the Pastor’s wise direction, formed 
a beautiful and perfect system. Even when mechanically employed, the minds of the scholars were occu- 
pied in acquiring knowledge while they sewed, knit, or spun, their teachers exhibited the most useful indi- 
genous plants, designed either for the food of animals or of men, and taught them their names. Plants, 
apparently useless and poisonous, were also presented and described, that they might avoid and extirpate 
them by degrees ; and when they walked in the spring and summer, they searched for the plants, the names 
and properties of which they had learned in the winter. In such a situation it is impossible to calculate the 
advantage of this judicious system; and, in fact, during the disastrous months of 1817, when the harvest 
failed, and potatoes were extremely scarce, the correct acquaintance of the people with the vegetable produc- 
tions of their canton contributed to prevent the most distressing consequences. 
In order to habituate the children to healthy and innocent amusements, they were inspired with a taste 
for botanical pursuits. By teaching them to draw the flowers which they collected, a desire was excited to 
cultivate the objects themselves, and their parents were requested to give them little gardens for the employ- 
ment of their industry and skill. The scholars, of twelve and fifteen years of age, wrote after the dictation 1 
of their teachers, lessons on agriculture and the management of fruit-trees, extracted by M. Oberlin from the 
best authors, these they committed to memory. 
With a view to facilitate the progress of agriculture, a road was formed through the rocky districts of La ! 
Roche, where rocks hanging on the steep sides of a chain of mountains, and torrents pouring from their 
summits would, to a less daring spirit, have presented insurmountable obstacles. But every difficulty vanished 
before the enthusiasm of the villagers, and the energy of their indefatigable leader ; for the Pastor, who 
on the Sabbath, pointed out to them the narrow way that leads to life, and exhorted them not to be weary in I 
well-doing, was seen on the Monday with a pick-axe on his shoulder at the head of two hundred of his flock | 
with an energy that braved danger and despised fatigue. Barriers were raised to prevent the sliding of the J 
earth, and the mountain torrents stopped or diverted in their course, enormous masses of projecting rocks 
were blasted, a wall constructed along the Brusche, and an intercourse permanently established between the 
five villages, which before, in the heavy snows, were entirely separated from each other. In the course of 
this arduous undertaking implements were wanting, he procured them ; expences accumulated, he interested 
his distant friends, and, in spite of every obstacle in two years the work was completed, and his ulterior 
plans completely realized. The exportation of potatoes then commenced, and their quality insured an advan- 
tageous sale in the market of Strasbourg. 
Thus by the indefatigable exertions of the worthy Oberlin, the savage and barren district of La Roche 
gradually assumed the appearance of cultivation and of plenty. Esculents were generally introdueed, and 
artificial grasses, flax, and the finest apples, pears, plumbs, nut and cherry trees naturalized to the soil, i 
which was rendered more productive by means of manure, obtained from different vegetable productions, 
such as the leaves of trees, the stalks of rushes, mosses, and fir-apples with old woollen rags and shoes. 
Some of the natural productions of the country were appropriated to the use and varied the provisions of 
the inhabitants, such as the stripe flowered cabbage, common chick weed, dandelion, mountain willow herb, 
plantain, pimpernel, dock, valerian, bladder campion, watercress, &c. Corn-cockle was plentifully sown, and 
the seeds mixed with corn made bread. A small wine called piquette, was procured from wild cherry, 
juniper and dog-rose trees. Brandy from the dwarf and common elder berry. An essential oil from carra- j 
way seeds and beech nuts. 
A law suit between the lords of the soil and the peasantry had subsisted for eight years, which impover- \ 
ished both parties and diffused a spirit of litigation and of intrigues. Oberlin terminated this disgraceful 
and mischievous contention. Here was the ascendancy and the reward of virtue. A grateful deputation 
waited on the pastor of La Roche, presented to him the pen with which the solemn treaty had been signed | 
and intreated him to suspend it in his study, as a trophy of the triumph of habitual benevolence and Chris- 
tian charity. 
M. Oberlin modestly acceded, and acknowledged that the day on which that pen was used was the happi- 
est of his life. It was, indeed, a simple trophy, but more splendid than the brazen column of Austerlitz, 
or the banners that once proudly waved from the gilded dome of the metropolis. 
Such have been the exertions of M. Oberlin, and verily he has had his reward. The miserable inha- 
bitants of the Ban have become happy, their sterile soil is clothed with corn and fruit-trees, and their meadows 
are filled with flocks ; contentment has succeeded to despair, abundance to abject poverty. 
To maintain the energy necessary to the fulfilment of his duties, under circumstances frequently the 
most discouraging, celestial influence was sought for and cherished. Amidst all his cares and labours he 
still found time for private reading and pious meditation, and often whole hours to prostrate himself at the j 
footstoo of that Being from whom he has derived strength “ sufficient for his day.” 
