Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-02-01
MISTAKE OF YOUNG MEN.

II is great mistake into which many Ameri-
can youth fall, that manual labor is not honora-
Bile. To be merchant, lawyer, doctor, an
engineer military or naval officer or ship
master, is, in their esteem, much more honora-
bic than it is to be mechanic or farmer. 1t
cannot be denied that all these other occupa-
tions require exertion. The doctor is often
quite MS weary when his days work is done, as
the farmer or blacksmith can be- but he is not
half so sure of quiet nights sleep as they are,
and we all know to what hardshps engineers
are exposed, as well as persons who follow the
seas. ..-a...,, fer rsair .j
We often see vigorous young men seeking
places rs clerks in stores. They all hope, and
generally expect, some favorable tide in the af-
fairs of life, which "will lead them on to for
tune" Other men have accumulated vast sums
in buying and selling goods, why not | I! is the
language they use. They rarely consider that
but very small number Of those who embark
ever complete their voyage. Where one sue
ceeds, fifty, perhaps hundred, fail
But an Industrious, thrifty farmer seldom
fails to secure for himself and family, the com.
forts of life. The skillful and practical mechan-
ic, too, is generally sure Of remuneration for
his labor, and with common prudence, he can
provide competence for the future. That a
princely fortune can be heaped up by the plow,
the jack plane, or the sledge, we do not say;
nor is it pretended that men are likely to ac-
quirc fame on farm, or at the bar. But the
history Of the world will show, that the men
who have done most for the welfare of the race,
and whose memories are cherished with the
most respect, came from the hard. working ranks.
Princely fortunes are more easily wasted than
won, and while the moderate possessions Of
the farmer or mechanic supply all the comforts
of life, they are attended with few temptations
to luxury or extravaganza and still fewer risks
from the folly or fraud of others.
There can be no doubt that agricultural en-
ployments are the most natural to man, and
there is no country on the globe in which the
facilities for pursuing these employments are SO
great as in the United States. 1t requires but
a very small outlay of money to obtain res
pectabe farm to begin with. A good knowl-
edge Of the methods Of husbandrv can be easi.
ly acquired. The implements of labor are as
good and cheap as can be found the world over
The products Of the earth are sure Of a good
market, and one which is easily reached. The
title of land is well secured, the large monopo
lies, such as some of the countries Of the ole
world are burdened with, can never exist here
What greater encouragement could be asked by
one who only desires to live comfortably anC
Independently The farmer, that honest, good
ly farmer, is one Of the most independent mer
in the wide world. He has the promise of the
great Creator that seed time and harvest shal
not fail. He may always plow in hope, and reaI
with Joy. To till the earth, then, is really al
honorable calling.
But it does not require that man should bt
enslaved to the plow, nor that he should make
companions of his sheep and OK. The shrewd
est and most intelligent men, who sit on GU
juries and help make our laws, come from thei
farms and return to them as soon as their pub
lie duties terminate. The good sense, sobriety
contentment, industry, and love of order whcl
characterize our American farmers, are, unde
God, among the most important safeguards o
public peace and prosperity.