The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-10-11
TUMBIA COUNTY, PA. THURSDAY, OCTOBER H. 1855.


to nature. If such cultivation gave them
two OF three fold crop, they were lucky. II
happened much oftener that its growth was
choked with weeds, or that il met with some
other evil chance, by which
The green corn pershed ere his youth al
tanned beard"
The planting and gathering were left 10 wom-
en- and children 1.-The men dispised such work,
as being inconsistent with their honor and
dignity. Hunting and fighting were the en-
ployments in which they found pleasure and
glory, as we'll as food and clo,hiog. But there
was one man among them more thoughtful
and observant than al! the rest. He had
watched the unfolding vegetation, from the
sproutine OF the seed to the maturity of the
fruit, with keen perception of the whole
marvellous and beautiful process and he de-
voted his attention to the rearing Of useful
grains, with . pleasure. which he had never
felt in the excitement of the chase. He dis
covered the proper season for planting hs
noticed that weeds were unirisndly 10 the
growth oi his crops he found that mixing
certain substances, such as ashes and de-
composed leaves, with the soil, wonld in-
crease its productiveness he learned that
stirring the ground about the roots Of plant
would make i. thrive more rapidly he even
got himself kin1 of hoe made, by some
cunning worker in iron. Here was philos-
opher; whose Intellectual stature rose high
above that of his fellows. Being patriot
also, and willing 10 do good for his country
men, he conceived the thought of pereua-
ding them to quit hunting and win surer
living from the earth. At his request, they
assembled under the spreading oaks, to hear
his plans; and this was the first agricultural
meeiing-I will not say the first on record
for do not know tha, II 10 recorded-5ut
certainly the arliest you ever heard OF. The
sage uniolied his now sciencs 10 them, pro-
wing il, as he went along, by the facts of his
own experience. The chase, he said, was a
precarious business at best, while agriculture
would be sure and steadfast reliance. He
told them, that he himself, with the moderate
labor Of his own hands, had gained in sim
gle season, what would sustain life longer
and better, than all the spoils taken, during
the came time, by The best ten of their hum
tsrs. This, he asserted, was true of an ordii
nary season, but sometimes the game disap.
psared entirely. His voice grew deeper, and
it's tones had melancholy impressiveness, as
he described the suferings endured by them
all, when they, the strong sons of the wilder
ness, with their wives and children, became
ths prey of gaunt famine and wide wasting
pestilence. He concluded by promising, tina,
long lives of wealth and conte ntment should
repay them for general devotion of their Ia
Dor to the cultivation of the earth.
No cheers followed tine rpeech, but on
the contrary, hoarse murmurs of disapproba.
tion came from the multitude, swelling by
degrees iuto loud opposition. The new
measure was attacked with all those shallow
sophistries-those miserabls fallacies so hol-
low and lrulhless-wiih which conservatism
arms her ignorant votanes. That solitary
defender of truth was overwhelmed by the
sori Of arguments, which are sometimes re-
produced in modern political meetings and
legislative bodies. Some accused him of
deep design upon their liberties. Some ee-
clared that he had opposed the nation in its
last quarrel, and was, in fact, no better than
traitor. One sci knew him 10 be unsound
in his religious faith, and Brought oil the
prejudices OF superstition into the field against
him. Others charged down upon him with
whole army Of "illusirious " ancestors"
whose opinions, they said, were not like his.
Others still thste were, who could see no OBJ
lection 10 the man or The measure, but this
was not on the proper occasion--the time
was out Of joint. A potion of the crowd
saw, in their much wisdom, that 10 quit hum
ting would enetvate their frames and make
them race of towards. Most powerful of
all, and mos, profoundly wise in tteir con-
ceit, was the party who declared they
would never consent to the enormous saori-
fice of properly required by such an innova-
iion. They had invested large capital IN
bows, and arrows, ard spears, and traps, and
knives; and thase would a,l be useless if
their future occupation was 10 consist in till
ing the gtound. There was Que mighty fian
there blacksmith, who had gained great
consequence, and earned innumerable skins,
by making the weapons which were used in
killing the beasts Of the forest. He thought
his craft was in danger. and he objected to
Agriculture, for the SAME feason that Deme-
trius, the silversmiih, afterwards opposed
Christianity. lie put an end 10 all discus
sion, by utisring catchword, with just
enough of no meaning in it 10 make mis-
friends unanimous. He lifted up his big
voice, and cried out "Great is Diana the
Goddess of the bow, and the Patroness of
hunters" The whole assembly in full cho.
rus echoed the cry-and there was a great
uproar. Tney would have stoned their
prophet; for the sight of his meek counle-
nance and the recollection OF his blameless