Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-10-02


streets; but what becomes Of the ninety and nine
who raw blanks?
Alter all, n farmer may ask, what Is the adVan-
tare of great wealth? And what is wealth! "a
man is as we'll off" said great New York capital
ist who is worth half million as II he were rich
Punch saws that when Rothschd was told that
Louis Phillippe's income was but $50 minute, his
ewes filed with tears, and he remarked 81 was re-
ally not aware of the Kings destitutionw we
will conquer all India" said Perus to his Prime
Minister, eve will then over to ASIA ana con-
quer that We will then find other nations 10 con-
quer; and when all are subdued, we VIII then 81.
quietly down and enjoy ourselves But "hy,,
said the Minister, g may we not now sit down ana
enioy ourselves without going to so much trouble T!
1t was the prayer of an inspired sage, give me
neither poverty nor riches" and the great Bacon
said seek not proud riches, but such as you can
get honestly. spend frugally and leave cheerfuly"
Gould there be better definition of contcntment
found "Te your MASTER" said Roman Gener-
al to Persian Ambassador, who found him cook
ing his frugal meal with his own hands, "Te your
master, that all the gold in Persia could never bride
a man who is content to live on turnips ;"-true as
it was patriotic. If man would be happy he must
have limited desires.
Health of body and contentment of ones state,
is all that nature can give and to say that agrcu
ture is best adapted to secure this result is but say
ing what has been thousand times said before. If
you have these certain rewards, you are rich. You
amount of premium is in proportion to the risk run.
All men wish to be esteemed, and all Should de-
sire to be useful Who, more than the farmer, can
lie gratfed in both? The great mass Of the HUI
man family must be farmers and upon them rests
the destiny of the nation. They have the power to
give direction to those upon whom is devolved the
immediate guardianship of Our institutions. TO do
this right it is desirable that they should be intel
lgent, for the continuance of institutions de-
ponds upon the virtue and intelligence OF the peo-
ple If a nation would be free, it must be first in
telligent and virtuous The farmers hold, by their
numbers the gift of Office If they distribute these
gifts discriminatory, our Republic will long con-
tinue If they play falsely, they will find, when it
is too late, that they have sold their brthrght, and
have no room for repentance.
But it may be said that although collectively Far
mers have power, individually, they are of little
value, like the ocean; in its combined majesty, it
has power to bear the mighty fleet but in isolated
drops, it is of no service.
Some find fault that Farmers not sufficiently |
noticed and admired. But all such should rcmenl- |
Der that notice and admiration are not essential to
happiness. Still even here, farmers have as little
to complain of as any other class of community
Almost every Chief Magistrate has been Farmer
either before, during, or after his elevation We
have had the Farmer of Mt. Vernon, the Farmer OF
Monticello, the Farmer of the Hermitage, the Far
mer Of Ashland, the Farmer of North Bend, the
Farmer of Tennessee, the Farmer of Marshfied,
although all Farmers cannot be Presidents, all Pres
idents must be Farmers.
In Agricultural life, continued Mr.. o. there are
very great opportunities for usefulness. Whenyou
place your seed in the ground, you know not the
extent of its products but when you SOW the seeds
of virtue, you of an abundant return. One
hundred years ago. there lived in Boston, poor
Tallow Chandler-wise and honest 1t was his
custom every morning to repeat this texts See
man diligent in business, he shall stand before
Kings" This seed was sown in good ground His
youngest boy was "diligent in BUSINESS" and he did
"stand before Kings" He snatched the lightning
from the Clouds and cast sceptres from the hands OF
Kings. On his death-bed he said that to his faith
ers precepts he attributed his success in life lie
caused monument to be reared to that fathers
memory; but his noblest monument was his sons
character. The example which he gave OF thrift
and diligence, has induced thousands to initiate his
example; and yet unborn millions will testify to
the benefits of single scripture text upon the mind
and character of Benjamin franklin
Mental Improvement is essential TO the happiness
of Farmer In my ideal of Farmer is included
more than mere reaping of fields and filling OF
barns. He did not expect Farmer to be learned
in what is not useful But if he enjoys health, let
him know something of the admirable machine
which is thus kept in heahtul operation by an Al
mighty hand. Let him know something OF the
physiology of the vegetable world, and every blade
will speak to him of the benefcence of the Creator
1t is in the power of every man to devote portion
of his time to these sublime pursuits. 1t will make
his walks pleasanter and his flowers sweeter.
Nothing, continued Mr.. @, is more important
than mental culture except mora discipline Every
condition of man involves trial, but not in the same
degree. 1t is not from every condition of life that
the narrow gate is erected through the eye of a
needle. There are comparatively few temptations
in agricultural life. 1t is life which rests on no
mans promise, but upon His who hath promised
summer and winter, seed time and harvest.
And while free from temptation, such life gives
complete scope for The performance of all those du-
ties which make men better and happier. Every
man cannot render himself conspicuous in the eye
OF the world, by rendering great service to his coun-
try. But 1t is not they whose presence draws forth
the shout of the multitude, who alone are useful
God approves the services Of the venerable Patri-
arch whose presence draws tears from the eye and
blessings from the tongue of those who have felt
his unostentatious acts of kindness
The Farmer, like the Patriarch of DID, stands at
the head of his family. When the Great Law Civ
er led his chosen people out of bondage and estab-
llshed them in Judea all His dispensed institutions
proved how much He thought Of the influence of
agriculture in forming human character. To re-
member and love Him, and rejoice before Him on
national anniversaries and fesal days, the great
command. The second was like unto lt-klndness
to the stranger and the fatherless. Nor was the
brute forgotten. The chosen people were directed
to remember them when they should gather in their
fruits, and not to "muzzle the OK that treadeth out
the corn"
The scenes which surround the Farmer cannot
but lead his mind upward. The high mountains
the lovely valleys-the green fields and the dancing
brooks-all cheer him on his joyous pilgrimage
The glorious sun sends his rays to the millions of
the ters of the earth, to enrich their toll, and to
cheer them on in their career of happy contentment
The religious feeling is no where naturally |
produced, as amid the rural scenes with which the
Farmer is surrounded. The Shepherd boy of Isra-
ell, while keeping his fathers hocks, was filled with
admiration of Gods munifcence, and exclaimed, in
holy rapture" What is man that Thou art mind
tul Of him, or the of man that Thou regardest
hlm! Veneration and love burst spontaneously |
from his lips; and when all wrapped in holy graft
tude, he exclaimed, "The Lord is my Shepherd | |
shall not want" But anon, his voice comes to us