The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-07-20
THE PION EER.
AG RIGUL TU RA L !.
Stick to the Firm.


article in The Counhy Gentleman some
weeks ago, (April 27,) by Henry F.
French. That article and your recent one
on. the Claims and Charms of Agrucul-
ture, brought to my recollection the fact
that had some months ago endeayored to
inculcate the same lesson, and set forth
the claims Of Agriculture, by different
considerations and a different train OF
thought, in letter TO young friend who
very grudgingly and unwi-lingly came
home from shool to assist his father in his
spring and summer labors. Hoping that
these two articles have made some i'm
preston upon the minds Of such parents
and young men as may be agitating the
question with themselves whether it is
best to stick to the farm or seek other en-
ployment, and hoping also that the con-
siderations which l employed, of differ
ent tenor, may go some way towards
deepening the impression which these ar
ticles may have already made, am Undue
ed to copy for your columes the substance
Of that private letter--never intended in
any form, to meet the eyes of the public,
but only those Of the young man and of
h61hrents.
.eommencsd by expressing to my
young friend my surprise and my sorrow
at hearing that he considered it "hard-
ship" to be asked to leave school at the
end of the winter term and to remain at
home during the months of active labor
on the farm to assist his father. / told
him that Withdrawing from attendance on
his school was by no means equivalent to
Withdrawing entirely from the pursuit of
knowledge. endeavored to make it evil
dent that he could easily contriye to de-
vote two hours at least, every day, to
those studies or departments of knowl-
edge in which he desired chiefly to make
progress. To the objection which l had
heard he had made to studying at home
that it was hard to give ones attention to
any study when the body was tired and
every one busy about something-I re-
piled by suggesting that there are some
studies SO attractive in themselves that
the attention might easily be given to
them at home any time and in any cir
cumstances. Among these I named his
tory, biography, botany, and vegetable
physiology. travels, &c. And desired
him to read the Treatise organally pub
lished by the society for the diffusion of
knowledge In London, and republished
in the country, entitled "7He Pursuit of
RnoDledge @nder Difficulties, !" from which
he would learn that hundreds had acquir-
ed treasures of knowledge and made great
attainments in scientific or professional
studies, under the pressure of difficulties
and hindrances much greater than any
that he would be called upon to encounter.
l then went on to state that consider
ed many of the prevailing opinions re-
garding farmers life as grossly errone-
Gus, leading of course, as all errors do, to
some foolish courses, and many unhappy
consequences. Among these erroneous
sentiments l dwelt particularly on that
which assumes the business of farming
to be less profitable than mercantile, me-
chanical, professional and other employ.
ments. referred him to the condition of
many farmers within his own knowledge
who had done much more than obtaining
brave livelihood-some of them having
laid by enough from the profits of success
sive years of farming to have large in
vestments in various ways-and also to
the general condition of the farming COM
munity throughout the country. Be-
sides the ability to accumulate wealth
which was thus easily maid evident when
any ordinary amount of industry and
good management existed, 1 reminded
him of the greater amount of health, of
happiness, of freedom from carking cares
anxieties and foreboding fears and of lon
gevity which usually falls to the lot, or is
the necessary accompaniment to the pur-
suits of the farmer. In these respects
most other employments shrink from COM
parison. Though riches may be acquired
more abundently in soome other employ
ments. reminded him by some reference
to well-known facts and familiar instan-
ces, that there were also more risks of
failure and fewer instances of moder-
ate gains in these employments, and that
hasting to be rich was usually productive
'of more folly, and of more sacrifice OF
honor and integrity than any one endow-
ed wiahe moral nature should consent to
makf all the wealth of the most fortu-
nate OF our merchant princes.
went on to say that itseemed imnossi.
one mat an Industrious, temperate and
iroga 1arntr could do otherwise than
succeed in making his condition and cir.
cumstances some better every year. Ire.
marked that small gains gradually &C.
cumulating, were much safer and sure,
than large profits or sudden fortunes
Few can bear such sudden prosperity