MR. Jackson had been an tradesman in the city of London, where he by trade acquired an independent fortune, and was now into the country to spend the remainder of his days amidst rural retreats, to enjoy the pleasures of through woods and , by the side of purling and streams, while the harmony of the feathered songsters would charm the ear, and the busy mind into the most .
The retreat Mr. Jackson had chosen was in the county of Worcester, and near to the place where he drew his first breath. His house was a well-designed mean between the vast piles raised for magnificence and those smaller ones in which convenience alone is considered. The walk from the back of the house led through a wood, by the side of a stream, which over grass from out of a deep hollow. A of water, which fell into it, gurgled through a rocky cavity; and in front you looked down on a fine lawn, terminated with a noble bank of hanging woods.
He would frequently to a great distance from home, to survey the beauties of the surrounding country. He had already visited every neighbouring village, and therefore one day strayed farther than usual in pursuit of new objects. On a sudden he discovered a delightful valley, the appearance of which seemed to correspond with every thing descriptive of a rural scene.
It was surrounded on all sides by hills, at the feet of which were thickly cottages, groves, and gardens, which seemed to be the of rural happiness. The silence of the scene was broken only by the dashings of a , which, rushing from an , , , into a beneath. Having there its rage in , it then divided into a multitude of little rills, and forming sweeps, refreshed the meadows and surrounding gardens with its friendly streams.
However pleased Mr. Jackson was with the78 natural beauties of the place, he was no less struck with the neatness and of the many cottages that presented themselves to his view, every house having a garden, an , and some well-cultivated ground about it. Their only fences were hedges of , which afforded a convincing proof of two things, the fertility of the soil, and the confidence each one had in his neighbour.
Mr. Jackson was so wholly employed in this pleasing scene, that he paid no attention to a storm that was around him, till the lightning flashed in his face, the thunder rolled over his head, and the rain began to fall in . He instantly ran to the nearest farm door, and having there knocked, gained admittance.
It was an elderly woman that came to the door, and who, though old, was not decrepid, and appeared to have something venerable in her . "Come in, sir," said she, "and I will make a fire to dry you. I am glad our cottage was so near to you; but you would have met with a kind reception in any of these cottages. There is hardly a house here which is not kept by some of our children or descendants."
Mr. Jackson had sufficient leisure, while the good woman was the fire, to survey the apartment. Every thing appeared neat, and it was easy to be seen, from the nature79 of the furniture, that necessity had no abode under that roof. The novelty of the whole scene, and the particular words the good old woman had dropped in conversation during the lighting of the fire, gave Mr. Jackson a strong desire to know further particulars.
While he was drying his clothes, he heard a voice in the other room, asking if the stranger was taken care of, to which the good woman replied in the affirmative. "I suppose," said Mr. Jackson, "that is your husband in the next room, whose voice I hear. May I go in and thank him for his hospitality and kindness!"
"With all my heart, sir," replied the woman, "you will please to step in, and I believe you will not be dissatisfied with your reception." Mr. Jackson did so; and there found an old man reclining on a bed, of which the clothes and furniture were very neat and clean. He had on a cap, and his snow-white locks hung over his venerable shoulders. His countenance indicated the goodness and of his heart, and even Time had here been more sparing of his devastations than is generally the case.
The appearance of this happy villager had a very great effect upon Mr. Jackson, who could not look on him without being, in some measure, prejudiced in his favour. "What is the matter with you?" said he to the old cottager, "I suppose you are ill, and obliged to keep your bed?"
"God be praised," replied the old man, "that is not the case; though it cannot be expected, that a person turned of fourscore years of age should be free from all kinds of complaints. It is not a long time since I have given up daily labour, which my children obliged me to do; for they said I had worked long enough for them, and that it was now time they should work for me in their turns."
Mr. Jackson highly applauded the conduct of his children; and observed to the old man, that he must have purchased his present repose at the expence of a great deal of labour; but he wished to know, after having passed his life in such active scenes, how he could amuse himself at present.
"My whole life," replied the old man, "has been a constant succession of labour. There are few men who have carried in more hay, or tied more sheaves together than I have; but my labour me health, contentment, and happiness. As to time, it never sits heavy on my hands; and, when my body is at rest, my mind is at work. How can any person be at a loss for thoughts who has ten children, and fifty children's children to think for? They every day give me an account of their affairs and labour, and it is I who put every thing in order. There is always one constantly upon my hands that must be married, and matches of that kind81 are not to be set............