is estate,
at Marshfield, the finest cattle, and sheep suited to its soil and
climate, and takes much pride in showing their good qualities. Indeed,
we have never heard either of these two last remarkable men more
eloquent, than when discoursing of their cattle, and of their pleasure
in ranging over their pastures, and examining their herds and flocks.
They have both been importers of stock, and liberal in their
dissemination among their agricultural friends and neighbors.
Public-spirited, patriotic men, in almost every one of our states, have
either imported from Europe, or drawn from a distance in their own
country, choice animals, to stock their own estates, and bred them for
the improvement of their several neighborhoods. Merchants, and generous
men of other professions, have shown great liberality, and the finest
taste, in importing, rearing, and distributing over the country the best
breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs. Their own beautiful home
grounds are embellished with them, in a style that all the dumb statuary
in existence can not equal in interest--models of grace, and beauty, and
utility, which are in vain sought among the sculpture, or paintings of
ancient time. And many a plain and unpretending farmer of our country,
emulating such laudable examples, now shows in his luxuriant pastures,
and well-filled barns and stables, the choicest specimens of imported
stock; and their prizes, won at the cattle shows, are the laudable pride
of themselves, and their families.

Nor is this laudable taste, confined to _men_ alone. Females of the
highest worth, and domestic example, both abroad and at home, cultivate
a love for such objects, and take much interest in the welfare of their
farm stock. We were at the annual state cattle show, in one of our large
states, but a short time since, and in loitering about the cattle
quarter of the grounds, met a lady of our acquaintance, with a party of
her female friends, on a tour of inspection among the beautiful
short-horns, and Devons, and the select varieties of sheep. She was the
daughter of a distinguished statesman, who was also a large farmer, and
a patron of great liberality, in the promotion of fine stock in his own
state. She was bred upon the farm, and, to rare accomplishments in
education, was possessed of a deep love for all rural objects; and in
the stock of the farm she took a peculiar interest. Her husband was an
extensive farmer, and a noted breeder of fi