Green fields and whispering woods; or, The recreations of an American "country gentleman"; embracing journeys over his farm and excursions into his library . y pre-served the picture! One day,when I was a lad perhaps adozen years of age, I sat uponthe top-rail of a high fencewhich ran along one side of ameadow upon my fathers beau-tiful, though then comparativelynew farm, and wondered whatgreat work there was in theworld for me to do which wouldrender me famous — immortal!For I was an ambitious boy,emulating the spirit of youngCowley breathed in the follow-ing lines: What shall I do to be fore
Green fields and whispering woods; or, The recreations of an American "country gentleman"; embracing journeys over his farm and excursions into his library . y pre-served the picture! One day,when I was a lad perhaps adozen years of age, I sat uponthe top-rail of a high fencewhich ran along one side of ameadow upon my fathers beau-tiful, though then comparativelynew farm, and wondered whatgreat work there was in theworld for me to do which wouldrender me famous — immortal!For I was an ambitious boy,emulating the spirit of youngCowley breathed in the follow-ing lines: What shall I do to be forever known,And make the age to come my own ? Somehow, also, I had quite asettled belief that I should eventually find the work, andthat fame, yea, and immortality, such as men find belowthe moon , would be achieved. In the above paragraph I speak of one particular day;I care not to have it believed, however, that this was theonly time I was ever visited by such thoughts during boy-• By no means think it! They were with me con- fNor the only time that I sat on the top-rail of a fence when IOught to have been -at work. 431 432 A RUSTIC tinually. I mentionthis occasion espe-cially because itstands out ratliermore clearly in memory tlianothers of the kind, and be-cause I am able to give thereason of this circumstance. It was a wondrously beautiful day inSeptember. I had been set by my fatherat picking up small roots, chips and other rub-bish which cumbered the ground in one of thelots, and it was not only rather laborious, but,having been left quite alone, I soon found itvery slow and monotonous work. It was a muchmore agreeable situation for me a-top of thefence where I could gain a wider view of the world, feel thesoft breezes fan my warm cheek, and dream uninterruptedlyof the herculean labors I was one day to perform whereby Iwas to win undying renown! The contrast between mypresent every-day occupation and the glorified work of thefuture — between my presen
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