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  THE

  RURAL MAGAZINE,

  AND

  LITERARY EVENING FIRE-SIDE.

  VOL. I. PHILADELPHIA, _Seventh Month_, 1820.  _No. 7._




FOR THE RURAL MAGAZINE.

THE VILLAGE TEACHER.


Among the smooth faced urchins that were subject to my little
kingdom about fifteen years ago, was a tall awkward boy, named
Jonathan Gull. Jonathan was the son of an honest hard working
farmer, who lived about two miles from the village, and who had
by dint of frugality, acquired some property, and with it a
proportional degree of consideration in the eyes of his neighbours.
His crops of wheat were generally large, and he made a journey to
the metropolis once a year, to dispose of his grain and produce.
On these occasions his wife and a grown up daughter would usually
accompany him to see the city and to buy cheap goods. It did one's
heart good to witness the return of the honest farmer--the smile of
self-complacency with which he greeted the members of his family,
and the eagerness with which he inquired respecting the farm, Old
Roan, and the young colt, and brindle, the cow, and the litter of
young pigs; and the air of importance which he assumed towards his
neighbours, who thronged around him to hear the latest news-what
Boney was doing--the yellow fever--and the price of wheat. His
hearty greeting of his acquaintance; the animation which sparkled
in his sunburnt face; his short thick set figure, decked out in a
suit of homespun grey, with large brass buttons; his arms a kimbo;
and the broad burst of merriment, that, amidst the discussion of
graver subjects, occasionally broke forth at some sly turn, or
second hand joke of the traveller; altogether formed the beau ideal
of homely rustic happiness, and prosperity. Nor was the greeting and
excitation less on the part of the wife and daughter. As the wagon
was emptied of its load, treasure after treasure met the eyes of the
delighted group of children and neighbours. Here were a new set of
milk pans, and a churn for the dairy; a dozen of pewter spoons, as
smooth and as bright as silver, and scrubbing brushes, and knives
and forks to repair the waste of years. There glittered lots of new
calico, as fine as red and yellow could make them; papers of pins
and needles, and all the sundry articles which complete the stock
of an industrious housewife; while in another place were cautiously
hid, lest they should excite undue envy, the silver teaspoons and
teapot, and the bundles of coffee and tea and white sugar, together
with the tortoise shell combs and gold ear-rings which the good
natured husband had been importuned to buy. Let not the reader
turn away with contempt from this simple picture; the event was an
important one in the family of farmer Gull, and supplied it with a
stock, not only of necessities and luxuries, but of conversation
and pleasure for a full season. But alas! in the train of all this
prosperity and gladness marched the forerunners of decay. Farmer
Gull's heavy purse of shining dollars had won the heart of many a
knight of the counter, and many were the plans laid to obtain a a
closer intimacy with their owner. Here Mrs. Gull was invited to sit
down in the parlour to rest herself; and there was she pressed to
stay to tea. One talked to her about her butter and her cheese, and
another about her rosy faced children. In short, it so happened,
that in the course of a few years, she had at least half a dozen
acquaintances in the shopkeeping line, each of whom were under
engagement to spend a short time during the Dog-days at Melrose;
for so was the farm now styled. With these new acquaintances, new
views and expectations filled the minds of the wife and daughters.
The old family Bible and the Pilgrim's Progress were less frequently
read and quoted; the calico short gowns in which they used to visit
their