
E-text prepared by Al Haines
SUMMERFIELD;
DAY KELLOGG LEE
TO - MY VENERATED FATHER; - A - PIONEER OF THE LAKE COUNTRY; - WHO - SOWED TRUTH AND GOODNESS IN THE SPRING-TIME, - AND - REAPS PEACE AND HONOR IN THE AUTUMN - OF HIS LIFE; - THIS VOLUME IS WITH LOVE INSCRIBED. - INTRODUCTION.
J. M. AUSTIN. - SUMMERFIELD. - I. - GOING FROM HOME TO BUILD A HOME.
II. HOME IN THE BACKWOODS.
"DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER,—
IV. A FEAST AND A STORY.
V. JULIA WILMER.
VI. THE NEW HOME AND SETTLEMENT.
A young man, fresh from the bustling Hudson Valley, sets out for the untamed lake country, eager to carve a life among towering forests, shimmering lakes, and abundant wildlife. Guided by his seasoned uncle, he discovers the rhythms of farm work—plowing fields, tending livestock, and learning the true worth of honest labor. As the seasons turn, the narrative paints vivid scenes of deer bounding through thickets and trout leaping in clear streams, inviting listeners to feel the pulse of a world where nature and industry coexist.
Through heartfelt dialogue and gentle humor, the story explores the moral lessons embedded in daily toil, contrasting the steady satisfaction of a productive life with the fleeting allure of idle schemes. Characters embody a range of virtues and vices, offering clear examples of how perseverance, humility, and community nurture both personal growth and the health of society. Listeners will come away with a renewed appreciation for the simple, enduring rewards of rural living.
Full title
Summerfield or, Life on a Farm or, Life on a Farm
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (336K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2007-12-12
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1816–1869
A 19th-century Universalist minister who also turned working life into fiction, writing stories about farms, factories, and trades with an eye for everyday American experience. His best-known books bring together moral purpose, social observation, and the rhythms of ordinary labor.
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