RICHES. 
243 
D . nourish every domestic animal which affords 
] e flesh for our sustenance, shares our labours, 
0 f and is in various ways serviceable to us. 
The pig, the hen, the duck, the pigeon, the 
ass, the sheep, the goat, the horse, the cow, 
the cat, and the dog ; each renders him 
something in return for his care. We receive 
from each, according to nature, either eggs 
or milk, bacon or wool, various meats, or ser¬ 
vices. Corn is the first bond of society, be- 
" cause its culture and preparation for our use 
require great labour and reciprocal services. 
From its inestimable value, the ancients call¬ 
ed the good Ceres the legislatrix. 
There are occasions when food is much 
i more highly esteemed than the possession of 
riches. An Arab, wandering in the desert, 
had not tasted food for the space of two days, 
and saw that he had reason to apprehend fa¬ 
mine. In passing near a well, where the 
caravans stopped, he perceived a little lea¬ 
thern sack on the sand. He took it up, say¬ 
ing, “ God be praised, it is, I think, a little 
flour.” He hastened to open the sack, but at 
0 the sight of its contents, he cried, “ How un- 
|S fortunate I am ! it is only some gold powder!’’ 
We shall extract from that delightful work, 
0 Howitt’s “Book of the Seasons,” a slight 
sketch of the harvest in England. “ The har¬ 
vest is a time for universal gladness of the 
heart. Nature has completed her most im- 
r 2 
I 
