Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1849-10-04
RURAL LIFE.

RURAL LIFE.
This primevai employment of man
is the most healihful of all occupations;
heallhful for the body, the mind, and the
soul. What other pursuit by which
men obtain honest bread affords such
vigorous training for the physical pow
ers, such various and extensive ranges
of mental exercises?
And where may the moral nature of
man be preserved unsullied from vice,
and grow and expand more than amid
rural scenes and beneath the purest air
of heaven!
The farmers life is not scratch, scratch
with the pen-rap. rap, with the ham,
mer--nor an everlasting unpacking and
repacking of the product of another's
labor. He walks forth and under the
open sky, his broad acres spread out
beneath his feet; the blue concave, sun
lit or s,ar-lit,. or shrouded in clouds, is
still above him. Health claims him as
her favorite child, and the glorious sun
loves to kiss cheek, that is not ashamed
TO wear the ruddy imprint of such af-
lection. Natures own inimitable mu-
sic Of babbIing brooks, birds, breezes,
or rustling foliage, enters his ear on its
glad mission to his heart. He listens to
instructive voices, continually speaking
from the universe around him. His
eye gathers truth from unwritten pages
of wisdom, everywhere open before
him. Each day, each month, season
after season, year after year, these
teachings are given to him, infinite in
variety and endless in extent.
When, toward the close of sultry
day, the summers blessing comes pour
ing down, and as, in the beautiful poe
try of the sacred volume, "lhe trees of
the field clap their hands," and "the val
legs covered with corn shout for joy"
the farmer, retiring from his labors to
the friendly shelter of his cottage roof,
improves his leisure hours with the
treasures of written wisdom. So, too
while his fields are sleeping beneath frost
and snow, wha, profession affords more
available opportunities for self.culture7
Where was the lyric poetry composed
that makes Scotland prouder of her
Burns than of all her ancient race OF
warlike kings! Was it no, between
the handles of the Mossgcil plough7
OF all the employmen,s that busy
men in this present state of existence
the cultivation of the earth is dislin
7 guisbed as affording the best opportu
3 mites for an extended range of men,a
i discipline, for social, rural, and relig
e ious improvement!
: And now last of all, agriculture shall
put forth her highest claim. Of all mel
the farmer alone walks in the pail
o where God himselffirst took the createt
d image by the hand and led the way ST
l. dress and TO keep" his garden-th
= carth Coniding in God, the husband
n man ploughs his fruitful fields, Will
e, the birds Of spring are singing praise
if around him. Buoyant with hope, h
D. scatters the seed upon the ground an
W gratefully receives the early and tn
Or latter rain, coming down from Heave
" to give the increase. And never di
n rational man yet apply the sickle to III
u. golden grain without some vague ide
n, Of gratitude to God, the Giver of ha
IN vests!
Indeed, the husbandman's whole lif
lis rightly viewed is walking with God
as And though thousands may often thin
of this, and but few, even in any sma
degree. appreciate it as they ough
nevertheless assertions claim 10 be tru
as
TO "How barren tree is he that liv,
", and spreads and cumbers the groun
ar yet leaves no one seed. not one GOO
ali work, to generate him l know
= cannot live alike, yet all may lea
"' something answering their proportio
AS their kind.