CHAPTER IV

A CALENDAR OF DAYS

A country life is sweet! In moderate cold and heat, To walk in the air how pleasant and fair! In every field of wheat, The fairest of flowers adorning the bowers And every meadow's brow; So that I say, no courtier may Compare with them who clothe in gray, And follow the useful plow.

They rise with the morning lark, And labor till almost dark; Then, folding their sheep, they hasten to sleep, While every pleasant park Next morning is ringing with birds that are singing On each green, tender bough. With what content and merriment Their days are spent, whose minds are bent To follow the useful plow.

_Anon._