Reflections on the Month of March. 127 wrong removed as far as possible out of their way. I trust they will take in good part, and without offence, the warning of an OLD FELLOW SERVANT. REFLECTIONS ON THE MONTH OF MARCH. JOYOUS, the impatient husbandman perceives Drives from their stalls, to where the well-used plough There, unrefusing, to the harnessed yoke They lend their shoulder, and begin their toil, The harrow follows harsh, and shuts the scene. t Into the perfect year! Thomson's Seasons. Let me draw your attention to the pleasure we receive from the lengthening of the days, and the approaches of milder weather, which enables us to resume our out-door business, and fills, or ought to fill, our hearts with gratitude to God, who, year after year, since the beginning of the world, has apparently destroyed, and again restored to life, the vegetables with which he has clothed the earth, and who promised that, "while the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." The very birds shew their pleasure at the return of Spring, by their cheerful notes; and shall we let it pass without regard? No time is to be lost, there is much to be done when the frost breaks up. The ploughman and the sower, the gardener and the planter must all set to work, to produce food and beauty and pleasure for the coming year, that the earth may not fail of its increase by the negligence of man. I must here observe, that the necessary labour of ploughing is in many parts of England performed in a much more expensive, and at the same time less effectual manner than it might be. Will my North of England readers believe me, when I assure them that six horses and two men are sometimes used for one plough? Perhaps those who are accustomed to this very unnecessary expence, may not know that one man, with a light plough and two horses placed abreast, will do the work as well and as easily, as five or six one before the other, without the least injury to the horses; for even with the large heavy ploughs commonly used, not more than half of them are pulling at once, and, when the plough draws near the end of the land, the whole work is done by the nearest horse; indeed, I have often been amused to see what an easy day's work the first horse has of it, for in a small field, where the lands are short, he has to turn at the end, when the plough is little more than half way across the field. As for the land being too stiff to be worked with so few horses, I have never yet seen any which could not. After a week's labour, the rest and quiet of the Sabbath is a real comfort, when it is not spent in riot and impropriety. The regular weekly Sabbath is an appointment which distinguishes the Jewish and Christian religion from all others; no heathen nations, whether learned or ignorant, have any regular time for rest and worship. The Jews greatly provoked the Lord, and brought upon themselves severe judgments by neglecting his Sabbath. Let us take warning, and never profane that day which God has appointed to be kept holy; neither let us Questions from the History of England. 129 deserve to be deprived of his blessings by our idleness and ingratitude. F. S. QUESTIONS FROM THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND. (For the Answers see page 10. Vol. 4.) IN what year did Edward the Sixth die *? What relation was queen Mary to Edward the Sixth? What was her character and disposition? Did Mary encourage the Protestant religion, or not? What two Bishops assisted her in persecuting the Protestants? Were many persons put to death in Mary's reign for professing the Protestant religion? What two Bishops are particularly mentioned as having been burned to death for the sake of the Protestant religion? Had Ridley and Latimer exerted themselves greatly, by preaching and writing, to spread the Protestant religion? What other Bishop soon afterwards suffered death in the same cause? Had Archbishop Cranmer ever failed in shewing a firmness of resolution in support of the Protestant cause? Had he signed a declaration in which he shewed a want of courage in support of his opinions? How did he feel, after he had signed this? How did he act afterwards? * 1553. Why did he thrust his right hand into the fire, and what did he say on doing so? Was a claim to the crown set up in favour of any other person, against queen Mary? Who was this person? What became of lady Jane Grey? Who was her husband, and what became of him? Was queen Mary married? Who was her husband? Did the temporal affairs of the nation go on well during Mary's reign? What town in France, belonging to the English, was lost during this reign? How did the queen bear this loss, and what did she say? What was the disposition of her husband? How did he behave to the queen? Was she happy? In what year did she die *? How long had she reigned? V. A COMPLAINT OF A NEGLECTED FRIEND. To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor. SIR, I AM one of those unfortunate persons whose company is less sought after, now-a-day, than it used to be! indeed there are many families that have not invited me these ten years, and some people who never remember having seen me within their doors. This unkindness vexes me the more, as, wherever I go, I always promote cheerfulness, * 1558. An Address of a Dying Penitent. 131 add full half an hour's day-light every day, and assist wonderfully in keeping out the doctor; and with all this, my visit, even if it should occur every year, costs my friends a mere trifle, which is well repaid by the advantages they derive from my company. I therefore humbly beg your assistance in making my case known, and hope, by your recommendation, not only to make new acquaintances, but to hold more frequent intercourse with some who have formerly seen me, as I am not satisfied unless I return before the effects of, my last visit are forgotten. My friends are most numerous in the northern parts of England, and, if this should be read by any of them, I beg to thank them for so often receiving me into their house, and cannot but think, that, if they, were to look into the gloomy and smoky cottages in the south of England, they would be surprised to see how long it was since I had shewn my face there. When I enter a house, I only require the assistance of the good housewife herself, or one of the élder children, to make me into a mess of excellent white-wash. February 4, 1828. QUICK LIME. Sent by F. S. AN ADDRESS OF A DYING PENITENT. Look at me, William and Richard, and the rest of my brothers! Look at me! I have been wasting away, you see, by slow degrees, and I shall soon be no more in this world. I may die at any hour, with my disorder. I shall certainly die in a few days. You have the best reason therefore, for believing all that I may say; the dying seldom speak falsely. |