to mankind. The smiling face and happy disposition are the surest proofs of the highest, and most virtuous hearts; on our own part we prefer looking into the bright and sparkling river rather than the deep and silent pool; one is God's own handy-work, the other the toil of man. But now, alas, religion of the mouth is truly the fashion of the day; scarcely a house is entered but that the matron, be there one, tenders her gospel opinions, doubtless with the idea that she is offering you a passport to heaven. Her intentions may be good; I can in all humility fully believe they are intended as such; yet is it not a clear demonstration that the party thus offering theological counsels would desire to say; "I thank God I am not like those of your set." Better, far better were they to prove their christianity to the world by their actions, and let the pureness of their heart's charity stamp the fact on their cheerful faces. Such people send to a starving man a tract, and tell the sufferer to trust in God for his meal, and then go home to dine on venison and turtle, or all the luxuries which man can supply, or wealth can command. Let them go, I covet not their feelings, or their abundance, I love to see a happy joyous group of smiling faces, and bounding hearts, so I shall take the arm of the village schoolmaster, and hasten to Ashton, he will tell me something of his scholars, for I am already interested with the career of many of them. CHAPTER IX. Yes, let the rich deride, the proud disdain [jovs where nature has its play, The soul adopts and own their first born sway, Ir is not my intention to give any detailed description of the happy day passed by the lads and lasses at Ashton farm-many of my readers, doubtless, have attended a harvest home, and, like myself, many have, doubtless, there felt greater delight in witnessing and joining in the merriment of the rustic dance than they ever experienced in a heated drawing room, where envy, jealousy, and hypocrisy marred the atmosphere of true enjoyment; it is with the revellers rather than with the revels, however, that I am more particularly concerned, and I must do justice to farmer Winter's abundance as well as to the Miss Winter's superintendence of the feast; and yet, perhaps, the arrival of the last load and the subsequent festivities, would not convey half the joy to man as that afforded to him who looks on the rich harvest fields mellowed by the sunset of ages. He then recollects that this has been ever a season of rejoicing. Thinks of Ruth "weeping amid the alien corn." "Our Saviour gathering the ears of wheat on the sabbath," and a hundred other incidents which are connected with the sacred history of our religion, and our country. Yet beautiful, as a writer truly says, as may have been the harvest fields of Palestine or Egypt, they could never have surpassed in picturesque effect those which we have seen in our native land, our own England, hemmed in on every side by rich and park like scenery, and none more beautiful than that of Lindford Hall; through the green woodlands of which the worthy squire, as the afternoon advanced, drove to the scene of mirth and merriment. The cheerful groups there assembled, would have formed a beautiful picture; as the aged assembled in twos andthrees were discussing the beauty of the weather, and the fulness of the harvest, or the coming of the squire, while others watched with a parent's eye of love the merry gambols of their happy children; the mother not a little proud to see her darling Mary selected by the young squire, Frederick, as a partner in the dance, while George Radstock, the younger, beheld with beating heart, and the early jealousy of youth, his selected mistress whirled away in the VOL. I. G |