Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-17
Agriculture as an Occupation.


A correspondrn' Of the Albany Cult.
vs"f thus disconIses upon the choice ol
a jrocsslon
A sentiment has prevailed, and fear
vi prevails - an alarming extent, that
the Practical iarnrr occupies n place 10
society grade lower than the profess
si"u,l man, The merchant, or many other
l,b"rrrs Many Of our youth have I'M
bi'rd ihl> sentiment, and have been en-
r"nragcd ~ II by the fond but inJudIclous
parent. Thus, nnt few who might
"h"raiso have breu useful members of
s"ieiy, have been thrown upon the
world, mere pests 10 the community. ]
have certainly no anllpathles TO the learn
I'D professions, tho mercantile business
or mechanical employmrnls These are
all necessary and important ; but | insist
that agriculture Is neither less important I,
or less honorable, or less useful.
The difficulty is not so much in the
several binds oi business, as in the fact,
thnt M undue proportion Of our fellow
culz"ns are engaged IN the former, to the
neglect Of the latter and more than all,
that the sentiment which have suggest
ed prevents muIIitudes from engaging in
cEhrr.
From my own observation, in life OF
more than 10 years, aud looking back
tnd following the history of my early as
snciat"s, aud from somewhat extended
acquaintance with the world, | am fully
al the opinion that mat sentiment is one
ol the most fruitful sources of idleness
aud crime, of any that can be named -
And yet, what muiiliudes of young men
aud guardians act, or seem To act, under
It's Influence.
! knew man in my early boyhood,
whn had IA profession, but very little else
(sxrepi a numerous tamlly) who was of
ten heard lo say, that his sons should
never be farmers, let what would come
] hose sons alr now vagaboGds, except
one, who h rs already come To an untime
" end iils daughters married geniIe-
men. and are both living in ablect poverty
ihs Is only one among the multitude ol
gases which might be mentioned Still.
men will pursue the same path.
know a farmer with two sons--smart,
active lads, enjoying good health, who,
n"t long since, rented his farm, that hr
and his BOYS might live easier wa.
inclined To say 10 that father, Take care.
sir, that yon train not those fine young
fellows to idleness, dissipation, and vice
God made man an ngrculturlst, and
v whlle IN u state Of innocence, his first
business was 10 tlll the ground. Aud a.
every aye of The world, some OF the
greatest and ibe besi uf men have been
farmers Job and Abraham were far.
mrrs Washington aud jackson we're
iarnets--as also a multitude Of worthy
names and noble spirits, whn, like them
have blessed the world with examples o'
greatness and honorable deeds Aud
irlnice to know that many ~ our time, of
hug cultivated intellect, and enlarged
views, aud worldly competence, are
proud 10 be ranked among practical far
m"rs
Far better had It been for the world
had the number been trniold greater.
Far better were II Tor the present genera.
tion II IN the choice oi m employment
parents and their sons would view the
subject as these have done ; and let those
sons be directed ~ their choice To the
same wise results. Thus, much of the
Idlrness aud rrimc which are rxeriina
such FEARFUL nnilnencr upon u, would
never have existed. Many of the temp
tuiioHS 10 ,lce would have been avoided
know u father, engaged ~ profes-
sipO Nlu has an only son, inr whose ~
trfcsI b. has ever lrit the drepes, solci
inde. When that son was l6. like man,
lads of his age, he manifested n strong
desire {" engage as ! rlrrk ~ n store. -.
The father ltl that agriculture was au
egnnUy h"norahle business -murh safer
aud more free from Temptation yet h'
did not wish absolutely 'n cnmpel his sru
ro n course avctse Ia his own choice. iIr
therefore Engaged u place lnr him with n
mere hanl oi hIs acquaintance, Ia be oc-