The Rural Life

The farmer who, in days of old, From house to houso his produce sold, Well-ripened fruit and sheaves of goWt, Seemed to us cliildreu of the town, A triflle coarso and wondrous brown. We wonderod how his ampie hand Became so horny and so tannod, And deemed his heavy shoes would ill Befit the light-heeled dancor's skill; But they who 'neath his roof should trv The test of hospitality, His honesty without a flaw, His love of liberty and law, Would find, how'er concealcd from view, The roughen'd diamond pnre and true. He need not mark with an.xious eye, Thb fluctuant market's usury - Nor had he need to watch or wail The lightness of the banker's scale - His own sweet leaves from oven's maw, Shall careful wife or daughter draw, Well-pleased the household board to Me Crowned by her active miniatry. His fields of grain tliat richly spread, His towering maize, with tasseled liead ; His lowing herds tliat freshly pour The creamy nectar's balmy store ; The poultry roaming proudly biest, The ivory treasures of their nest ; The bees that hoard in cone-like bower, The honeyed essence of the ilower ; The garden roots that bidé their timo, The fruits that fall, the vines tliat climb ; A plenteous aüment supply, Which even Parisian luxury, With all its wire-drawn art and fame, Perchance might scorn but need not blame. Ho ! for the flax-iield's blossoms blue, And lustrous leaf surcharged with dow ; lts fibrous stem the wheel shall stir Of many a thrifty cottager. Ho ! for the white fiock wandering nigh Through pastures green, with patiënt eye ; Their silken fleece by woman's care Transmuted for her household dear, Arnis them the keenest blast to bear ; And well such useful labors cheer With sweat content her sheltered sphere. For she from home and ilistaff drew Not throad alone, or warp and woof, But strength to bear and will to do, That kept neuralgic pains alott. The arm that in the dairy wrought, (xained muscle iirm by action free ; While buxom health and cheerful tliouglit, The priceless gifts of industry, Inspired the vigor that sustains The mystic nerves and flowing veins ; Lends to the cheek a ruddy glow, And keeps the forehead fair. Even though chili age hath sifted snow Amid the lustrous bair. jllirl)iitin Jlrpi