evening, for his intended visit. Adrastus arrived at the farmer's, about half an hour after sun-set, when

"Twilight grey had in her sober livery all things clad."

The farmer, whose name was Matthews, was sitting at the door of his little cottage, smoking his pipe, and surrounded by his chil dren; his wife was leaning over the fire, preparing a decent and wholesome supper.

The farmer knew his landlord personally, and rose as to his superior, offering him the best seat in his homely cottage..

"Here, your honor finds me, (said the farmer) in a small, but happy place; I have been upon your ground these many years, and if you think good to renew my lease, which expires at Michaelmas, I shall most likely end my life in your service. Your dues are always ready to the hour, and I have no more reason to complain of my landlord, then he has of his tenant, and so

Adrastus interrupted him, by desiring to

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see the lease, and a pen and ink for the purpose of renewing it on the spot, to pen and ink, (replied the farmer) I have no use for them, and so I never keep any by me; I never write, and I can't read, and sosuch things are of no service.

"But if your honor wants to write, I can send to the shop for paper and ink, and I can easily send one of my boys to the green to pick up a quill."

"It don't signify at present (said Adratus) I'll sign it another time; but don't you really know any thing. of books? I actually thought you was a scholar; that you had employed all your spare time in study; that you had gathered your notions of economy, industry, and paternal propriety, from historic examples, or traditionary annals."

"No, really, sir, not I, (replied the farmer) I am a very illiterate man, and no scholar at all my father could not afford to give me an education, and I have had. neither time nor opportunity since: nature

and the use of my eyes have been my only instructor, and if I have been able to live respectably to the age of three score, and to rear up my children soberly, cleanly, and industriously, I owe it merely to them; indeed, to say the truth, my business, as a farmer, throws in my way a thousand instructive objects. My farm-yard is stocked with improvements: at the end of that small slip of garden, I have a bit of a beehive, filled with little industrious animals, who tell me what a shame it would be to lead the life of a drone. My maxim is this, sir, that he who don't make honey, ought to eat none, and so this made me indefatiga ble to earn my meal, before I sat down to it. Nay, in this part of my duty, I am farther instructed by the little creatures who inhabit the mole-hill; is it possible for a man to see the poor things at work, for the day of necessity, and not take the hint, and lay up a modicum for his own family? I have rested upon my spade, sir, on purpose to look at their labours and then I have

gone to work again, lest they should have the sense to chide me for minding other people's business more than my own.

"I have an old house-dog, there, that aged animal, sir, has kept my clothes by day, and my cottage by night, till he has not got a tooth in his head, and has done for me what I would do for a neighbour of mine, whom I have loved ever since I was a brat no higher than my hand. He once did me a piece of service when I most wanted it, and whilst I have breath I will not forget it.

"He, sir, who has no gratitude, has no nature in him, and an unnatural man is better dead than alive, because we are all born to do something, and he who does a kindness. deserves to be remembered.

“With regard to my duty as a husband and a father, I learn it from the feathered tribe around me, the very pigeons on my dove-house, and the wren that builds her nest under my hovel, all are faithful to their mate, and anxious for the preservation

of their offspring. To this old dame. I have been married forty-six years, and I find such a pleasure in my constancy and affection, that I could not receive from inconstancy; and in this manner have I learned my lessons of wisdom, worship, and truth."

Here the good man paused, and directed his eldest daughter to draw some of his best harvest brewed beer..

Adrastus was astonished at the simplicity of his manners, the soundness of his sense, as well as the propriety of his remarks."Farmer, (said he,) you have distressed me, as well as delighted me. I came prepared to offer you assistance, and you have left me nothing to bestow. I have nothing that you have not, but a greater proportion of money, and you are so truly contented, that any additions would, perhaps, disconcert the economy of your plan.

"You are a happy farmer, and a natural philosopher, without the use of large systematic folios, or the toils of a sedentary