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and considerably augmented the resources of the inhabitants.

This success was probably owing in part to the attention he paid to the management of manure, which constitutes a chief secret in agriculture. He not only directed his laborers to the means of enriching it by fermentation, but taught them also that all sorts of vegetable substances, even the leaves of trees, the stalks of rushes, moss, and fir apples, might be converted into a useful compost. Acting upon his favorite maxim, "gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost," he also instructed children to tear old woollen rags into pieces, and to cut up old shoes for this purpose; and to facilitate their labors, he paid them sixteen sous for a bushel, and one sou for the smallest quantity they liked to collect.

These incidents may appear trifling and unworthy of record to some of my readers; but they are mentioned, together with others in the course of the narrative, as characteristic proofs of the real interest with which Oberlin entered into every thing likely to conduce to the welfare of his flock. As soon as he was fully convinced that they began to recognize the utility of his instructions, he endeavored to point out to them the advantages that would arise to them from converting the least productive pastures into arable land, and feeding the cattle in their stalls; in order to increase the quantity of milk and butter, which constituted not only so large a part of their subsistence, but also an article of commerce.

This conversion of grass into arable land, in

a country where rocks were piled upon rocks, and where in some places large masses must be blasted, and in others removed and covered with good soil, before the plow could possibly be employed, required of course a great deal of time and labor; but the industry and zeal with which Oberlin himself began to put in practice every scheme that successively occurred to him, had such an influence upon the minds of his parishioners, that, after the prejudices of the few first years had entirely subsided, they seldom failed to enter into his views, and to imitate his example: the plan was tried, and answered his most sanguine expectations.

In the year 1778, he formed, at the Ban de la Roche, a little Agricultural Society, composed of the more intelligent farmers and the best informed inhabitants of his parish; and, having invited the pastors of the adjacent towns and some of his friends to become members, he connected it with that of Strasbourg, in order to secure the communication of periodical works, and assistance in the distribution of prizes; and the latter Society, wishing to encourage its interesting auxiliary, intrusted to its disposal the sum of two hundred francs, to be distributed among such peasants as should most distinguish themselves in the planting of nursery grounds and in the grafting of fruit

trees.

The good effects resulting from this measure induced Oberlin likewise to form a fund, supported by voluntary contributions, for the distribution of prizes to the farmers of each commune, who should rear the finest ox. A short

time afterwards, with a view to prepare the rising generation for continuing the works which their fathers had begun, and to give the opportunity of acquiring useful information, he commenced the plan of devoting two hours every other Thursday morning to a familiar lecture on the subjects of agriculture and of useful science.

Such, indeed, was his assiduity, that not a year rolled away in which some astonishing improvement was not effected in the condition or the morals of his people; and the surrounding districts beheld with admiration the rapid progress that civilization was continually making, in the once neglected and apparently forsaken Steinthal.

CHAPTER IV.

Oberlin's address to his parishioners on the commence. ment of a new year-Erection of a new school-house in the Ban de la Roche-Progress of civilizationFour other school-houses erected-Introduction of infant schools, under the care of conductrices-Public schools-Weekly assembling of the children at Waldbach, to receive religious instruction-Establishment of a circulating library-Almanac-Christian Society established in 1782-Abrogation of that Society.

WHILE Oberlin was thus zealous in encour. aging the progress of agriculture, and in forming his people to habits of industry, he attended with equal solicitude to what related more immediately to his pastoral functions, as the following address to his parishioners, on the commencement of the New Year, 1779, bears ample testimony.

"JANUARY 1, 1779.

"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new."-Rev. xxi. 5.

"Through the grace of God we have entered" upon a new year. O, that it may be new with respect to our sins, our sufferings, and the temptations with which we may have to combat.

"As to sins, may their number diminish day by day, and may we be more constantly animated, and governed, by the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ. As to sufferings and tribulations, may they produce the effect which God designs in sending them, namely, that of detaching our affections from this transitory world, and of rendering us attentive to his will and Word. May they quicken us to prayer; and 'induce us to strive more earnestly to enter in at the strait gate, and to 'press toward the mark for the prize of our high calling.' And, as to the temptations which may be placed in our way, may we live entirely to Jesus Christ, and maintain constant communion with him, in order that we may receive, from time to time, fresh supplies of grace and strength to resist them, and be enabled to bring forth fruits of righteousness, to the glory of God, and to the honor of his Holy Gospel. O Lord, be thou pleased, with the renewal of the year, to renew our strength. O Lord Jesus Christ, thou hast said, 'I make all things new.' O make our faith new also.

"May this year be marked by a more lively, more deep, and more serious repentance; bv greater fervor in supplicating the influences o

God's Holy Spirit; by renewed earnestness in devoting ourselves to Him, and to his service. May we look to Him, and employ all our mental and bodily powers, our time, and our prop"erty, to his glory, and to the purpose for which Jesus quitted his throne, namely, the conversion and happiness of mankind. O may we, this year, apply ourselves, with renewed faithfulness, to obey all his commandments, and all his precepts.

"May this year be distinguished by an increase of the number of the children of God, and of the followers of Jesus Christ; by the weakening of the kingdom of Satan within us, and by the coming of the kingdom of God.

May we, not only during the present, but, also, during each succeeding year which God shall grant us in this probationary world, become more and more prepared for a blessed eternity-abound more in prayers of intercession and supplication-shed more tears of penitence, contrition, love, and pity-and perform more good works, in order that we may reap an abundant harvest on that day, when God, through Jesus Christ, shall make all things

new.

The instruction of the young also engaged, in an especial manner, a large portion of Oberlin's care and attention. When he entered on his charge, in 1767, the only regular schoolhouse in the five villages, was Stouber's hut, which, having been constructed of unseasoned wood, was in a most miserable and ruinous condition. His parishioners were, however, very averse to his proposition of erecting a

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