Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-05-30


can often bless himself with and there, day after
day. month after month, year after year, he is to be
iound like bat in hole in wall or toad in the
heart OF q stone, or of an oak tree. Spring, and
summer, and autumn, 90 round: sunshine and flow
ers spread over the world the sweetest breezes
blow; the sweetest waters murmur along tho wales;
but they arc all lost upon him; he is the doleful
prisoner OF Mammon, and so he lives and dies. The
farmer would not take the wealth of the world on
such terms. His concerns however small, spread
themselves out in pleasant amplitude both TO his
eye and heart His house stands in its own stately
soitude his Offices and outhouses stand round eX-
tcnsivey, without any stubborn and limiting con-
traction; his stretch over hill and dale; there
his ocks and herds feeding; there his laborers
are toiing The is king and sole commander there
lie lives amongst the purest air and the most de-
licious quiet Often when see those healthy har-
dy, fullgrown sons of the soil, going out of town,
| envy them the freshness and the rcpose of the
spots 10 which they are going. Ample, old-fash-
Toned kitchens with their chimney corners of the
true, protecting beamed and seated construction,
still remaining; blazing fires in winter, shining on
suspended hams and fiitches, guns supported on
hooks above, dogs basking on the hearth below
cool ghady parlors in summer with open windows
and Sfors from garden and shrubbery blowing in
gardens wet with purest dows, and humming at
noon tide with bees and green fields and veidur-
Gus trees, or deep woodlands lying all round where
hundred rejoicing voices Of birds on other Great
urcs are heard and winds blow TO and fro, full of
health and lile-enjoyment. How enviablc do such
places seem to the trctted spirits of towns who are
compelled, not only to bear their burden # cares
but to enter daily into the public strife against self
ish evil and ever spreading corruption. When one
calls to mind the simple abundance of fasm-houses,
their rich cream and milk, and unaduteratcd but
ter, and bread grown from their own lands sweet
as that which Christ broke, and blessed as he gave
to his disciples; their fruits ripe and fresh plucked
tI, oil t,or Lol A.
pleasant old orchard; when one casts ones eye up
on, or calls to ones memory the aspect of these
houses, many Of them antquely picturesque, or
so right-looking and comfortable, in deep retired
valleys, by beautiful streams, or amongst fragrant
woodlands, one cannot help saying, with King
James Of Scotland, when he met Johnny Arm
strong
| What want these knavos that king should have?
But they are not outward and surrounding ad-
vantages merely, which give zest to the life Of the
farmer. He is more proud of it, and more attach
cd to it, than any other class of men, be they who
they may, arc of theirs. The whole heart, soul
and being of the farmer arc in his profession. The
members Of other professions and trades however
full they may be of their concerns, have their mouths
tied up by the etiquette Of society. man is not
allowed to talk of his trade concerns except at the
risk of being laughed at, and being set down an
egotistic ignoramus. But who shall laugh at or
scout the farmer for talking Of his concerns? of
talk, or care. And though he may be called bore
by all other classes what concerns it him? for 9TH
err classes are Just us great borcs to him; and he
seeks not their company. The farmers are Il large
class, and they associate and converse principally
with each other. "Their talk is Of bullocks," it is
true, but TO them is the most interesting talk of
l all. What is so delightful to them as to meet at
each others houses, and to talk of markets. rents
tthes, new improvements, and the promise of crops
To walk over their lands of a Sunday afternoon to-
gether, and pronounce on the condition of growing
corn, turnips and grass on this drainage, or that
neighbours odd management; on the appearance of
sheep, cattle and horses? And this is to be
ed, and, in great measure, to be admired For
those are artificial objects which they expend
their lives and souls they are the delightful things
of nature on which they operate and nature oper-
ates with them in all their labors, and sweetens
them to their spirits. This is the grand secret of
their everlasting attachment to, and enjoyment of
agricultural life. They work with nature, and on
ly moduate and benefit by her functions, as she
takes up, quickens, and completes the work of their
hands. There is a living principle in all their la
bors, which distinguishes them from most other
trades. The earth gives its strength TO the seed
they throw into ito the cattle that walk upon it.
The winds blow, the waters run for them the very
lrosts and Of winter give sanitary checks to
the rankness of vegetation, and tighten the soil,
: and destroy what is noXious for them; and every
principle of animal and vegetable existence andor-
ganzation co-operates to support and enrich them.
There is charm in this which must last while the
spirit of man feels the STRINGS of the spirit and
power Of God around him. 1t may be said that
rude farmers do not reason on these things in this
manner. No, in many, too many instances, grant
it; but they feel There is scarcely any bosom so
Goldfish but feels more less of this and by no
: other cause explanation be given of the en-
thusiasm OF farmers for their profession 1t is not
because they can sooner enrich themselves by it
: hat bpua mo N f.
have greater social advantages IN 1t. In all these
particulars the balance is in favor of the active and
enterprzing tradesman; but it is this charm which
has infused its sweetness into the bosoms Of all ru
raj people in all ages of the world From the days
of the patriarchs to the present. what expressions
/, of delight the greatest minds have uttered on be-
half Of such life Think of Homer, Thcocritus,
Virgil and Horace, of Cicero and of the many great
men who have devoted themselves with such Gag
erness to it.
That farmers as intelligent as parallel grade
of society in large towns do not mean to assert ;
} that they are as truly aware of and as united to
defend their real interests, will assert as little.-
Their solitary and isolated mode of existence
weighs against them in these points; but that they
have generally sounder morality than similar
class of townsmen is mdisputabe. They have
simplicity of mind, as well as manners, that is more
than an equivalent for the polish and conventional
customs of society, and with this, cordially that
is very delightful, and very rarely now to be found
the good, homey heartiness of Old English days.
They, indeed, so wildly enjoy the common bles-
sings OF life, from their vigorous health, and unyi
tiated appetites, as well as from the cravings of
their inner being, finding their food in the daily
communion with nature, instead of that book knowl-
edge which is SO extensively difused through all
classes of the city, and which, too commonly, while
it quickens the intellect, and widens the sphere of
observation, am sorry to say, deadens the human
synpathies, and distorts the heart-that they make
so much of their kindness appear in heaping upon
you bodily comforts and refreshments as is often
truly ludicrous. They would have you eat and
drink forever. One meal succeeds to another, with
a profusion and an importantly of hospitality that
are overwhelming. They eat their bread with
sweetness and acapacity generated by their active
and laborous habits, that we who lead more sed-
entary lives, and with minds and energies dissipat
ed by hundred objects unknown TO them, have no
idea Of people of all other classes place GREAT