Page:Gallant exploits of Lord Dundee.pdf/8

8 were; upon these accounts, excluded from extensive agriculture and manufacture alike, every family raised just a much grain, and made as much raiment as sufficed for itself and nature, whom art can seldom force, destined them to the life of shepherds. Hence, they had not that comes of industry, which reduces man tor machine, nor that total want of it, which sinks him into a rank of animals below his own.

They lived in villages built in vallies and by the side of rivers. At two seasons of the year, they were busy; the one in the end of spring and beginning of summer, when they put the plough into the little land they had capable of receiving it, sowed their grain, and laid in their provision of turf for the winter's feel; the other just before, winter, when they reaped their harvest. The rest of the year was all their own, for amusement or for war. If not engaged in war, they indulged themselves in summer, in the most delicious of all pleasures to men in a cold climate and a romantic country, the enjoyment of the sun, and of the summer-views of nature; never in the house during the day, even sleeping often at night in the open air, among the mountains and woods. They spent the winter in the chase, while the sun was up; and, in the evening assembling round a common fire, they entertained themselves with the song, the tale, and the dance but they were ignorant of sitting days and nights at games of skill or of hazard;-amusements, which keep the body in inaction, and the mind in a state or vicious activity!

The want of a good, and even of a fine can for music, was almost unknown amongst them; because it was kept in continual practice, among the multitude from passion, but by the wiser few, because they