because their souls were unclouded by sin, or perchance they were in
complete harmony with nature and were able to see all her beauty, each
charm enhanced by something within themselves.

Nowhere else did the earth yield such abundant harvest. The wheat bent
its yellow head from over weight. The trees were laden with fruit and
here again nature seemed to be in sympathy with her children. No sordid
motives, no love of gain, no thought of barter and sale entered their
minds while sowing their fields or reaping their grain, but every one
labored that each and all might be benefitted. The men were strong and
self-reliant, the women contented and happy, the children rosy and
healthy.

Every Sabbath morning the old church bell rang a sweet summons to meet
together to worship God. One church was sufficient for all. They knew
nothing about heresies and schisms but assembled together to hear a
simple story simply told. The venerable clergyman, with white hair and
beard, in the dimly lighted church resembled the pictures of the
martyrs, his face telling the story of a simple, true, pure life. His
sermons were eloquent from their very simplicity; no need there of
learned dissertations, for the people would not have comprehended had he
been able to give them, and had they been able to understand, their
pastor was unable to teach. It was a pleasant sight, the old men, young
maidens, happy matrons and rosy children assembled together in their
quaint old fashioned dress, simple in the extreme, listening to the
teaching of their minister.

Their amusement and pleasures were simple with no unnatural craving
after excitement. The ever changing sky and clouds; the mists on the
mountain top; the purple hills and yellow waving grain; the running