The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-03-02
INDEPENDENCE OF THE FARMER

No man can hardly, even in Imagination,
run a fence about his habiaiion, and then
exclaim, "let the winds blow high, blow
low, they can never move me. My pros
perily is founded on rock, and never can
be shaken" He. who approaches nearest
to this creature Of the fancy, is the farmer,
independent as he ought 10 be, not as he
too frequently is, with the ruinous and GUS
tomary mortgage on his estate. The farm
or, with his well-tilled acres clear, and his
well.nurtured aud taught wife and family
around him, need not envy an Emperor for
independence, for he is immeasurably his
superior in freedom from anxiety aud un-
anticipated freaks and turns of fortune.
Such man and his family may subsis,
and live like princes on the produce CT his
garden, orchard, wood, iillage land and
pasture. What does he wan, that they can
not give him! What can he wish for
even, as wise man and christian, that is
no, ob,ainabe at his own door! There
stands the school.house for his boys and
girls, and not far beyond, almos, in sight,
the habiiually frequen,ed church. His
farm teens with poultry, sheep and beeves,
yielding eggs, aud butter, and milk, not
emitting the scavenger OF the household
the omnivorous pig. Thus his sus,enance
is nicely cared for, as every one must ac-
knowledge. Little then remains, but raj
meni 10 provide for. II this cannot be sup.
FLIED as formerly by actually spinning,
weaving and shoe.making on his own
premises, the same result is arrived at b.
profitable exchanges. The hides OF the
beeves he saughiers or sells, the fleeces OF
his sheep, may be easily exchanged for
every thing his household will find requisite
for apparel. The surplus Of his fruit, veg
e,ables, hay, with numerous knicknackeries
carefully turned 10 accoun, by a thrifty hus-
bandmau, will throw considerable balance
in his favor a, The close Of The year, and
make a substantial deposit in his purse.
All bu, the drought. say you. True,
and wha, if drought does come, his acres
rendered proof against il by generous fer
,ilizers, taken in exchange for portion OF
his hay, brought home rs n return cargo
for every load-ihese acres will produce a
large fraction Of full crop in the worst OF
seasons, the enhanced price Of which, con-
necled with the saving Of labor in gainer.
ing 1t, will bring up its value nearly 10 a
full harvest.
How independent is The industrious far.
mer, again we repeat! But observe, his
wife ard daughters are not TO have four hats
in year 10 correspond with The four sea-
sons; nor his sous, and himself French
boots, or broad-clolhs TO correspond neither
with the climate, nor common sense. No
laces from Paris, or silks at four dollars a
yard for patterns ample enough TO cover
the body twice over, leaving yards enough
10 spare TO harrow his turnip field with
None, or few, very few OF these nonsensi-
cal fripperies must the farmer or his family
indulge in. But his daughters will look
just as well, il not better, in a muslin or
merino dress, fitted neatly 10 their comely
waists and bosoms, as the dropsical bal.
looms, one meets with so frequently in the
city streets. And as for bonnes, why, any
little bunch Of rags would be as becoming
10 the heads, as the comical things which
are now pinned 10 the top Of the neck,
which resemble the silk bags gentlemen
wore about the time Of the great French
Revolution. AS 10 their shape we mus,
say, rs Milton does Of DEATH.
Such man, rs we have slightly sketch
ed, feels not the ihroes Of Wall street
cares not for the rate OF interest; does no,
trouble himself with the usury question,
and does not tremble either at the coming
news from Europe, or the crash Of falling
stocks and credit.