Our friends the Hansons recently traveled to Colonial Williamsburg and came back with a gift for us; a pamphlet by written by Mr. John Wiley of Caroline County and originally published at the time of the Stamp Act. It is a lovely little thing, printed on a replica of an eighteenth century letterpress and bound in authentic style. Here is the opening line:

Though Sheep are the moft beneficial Creatures we can raife, they affording us both Food and Raiment, yet there is no dumb Creature taken fo little Notice of in Virginia as they . . .

Can't say things have changed much in the last two centuries. Here's to John Wiley, entrepreneur, agrarian and fellow struggler in the pasture of life.