Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-12-12
DON'T LEAVE FARMING.

Men are constantly leaving the farm for other
pursuits, Such persons have a history, which, in
many, perhaps in most cases, would be an instruc'
tive warning.
Mr.. A. heard of the profits Of the mercantile
business. He saw that merchants lived elegantly,
and seemed to have an easy time. Nothing seemed
more obvious than the path of wealth by the sale
of goods. 1t was only to buy cheap,s sell at twenty
five or fifty per cent. proft,an live well on a share
Of the proceeds, laying up the greatest share for
old age or a rainy day. So Mr.. A. sold his farm
and commenced business. But he had neither ex-
perience or skill. How could he have? So he was
cheated in the purchase Of his goods. lie paid
high prices; he bought too much of some things,
and not enough OF others, and others still he bought
which he could not sell at all. He did not under
stand book .keeping, and he lost from forgetfulnees
and false entries. lie did not Understand money and
lost from bad bills and bogus coin. His family were
extrayagaht because his dignity as a merchant was
to be sustained In a short time he lost his prop
erty and credit. and what was worse his self re-.
spectand manliness. He sank into obscurity and
poverty, because he did not stick to his farm. Mr..
Is. has a few hundred dollars, that he does not wish
to use in improving his farm. Some hard pushed
man otfors him two or three per cent. a month for
the loan of it. lie sees what power money has
lie decides to become a money dealer. He sells
his farm and opens a brokers' Office. lie does not
know the nature of his securities. He is imposed
upon u lew times, and loses heavily in this way
lie too, is Ignorant Of money, and takes counter
felt bills and thuse on broken banks. lie does GOT
know how to select his correspondence New York
or Philadelphia, and he looses by the failures
of the banks, at which he made his de.
posts. lie buys stock, and it depreciates
on his hands. He is careless and his safe
is broken open, and what he has left is stolen.
This hnishes him and he has sacrificed his all,
amounting 10 some thousands. So much has il
cost him 10 learn that il would have been better to
stick to his farm.
Mr.. q. sold four hundred bushels oe wheat some
years ago at the market price. lie subsequently lear
ned that the spsculitors who bought, made fifty pei
cent. advance on the purchase. Mr.. G. is conyinc
ed that "a fortune can be make in buying wheat on
speculation. III, borrows money, buys largely
and keeps his stock till it reaches the highest fig
ure. lie holds on hoping that it will still rise. Ii
begins to fall. lie will not sell now it will certain.
" go up again. 1t sinks still he cannot think Of
selling pow;why should be lose so much? Itsinks
lower still; it will not bring what he paid for it,
In a sort of phrensy which a looker-on cannot IN
derstand, be holds on still, as the grasp of death,
The grasp of death it proves to him indeed his
, notes become due his property is attached and
wheat, and farm, and everything, are swept away
at once, How terribly is he taught the lesson, that
the farmer should stick to his farm Men may, gener-
all pursue With success q business to which they
a have been trained. Men of extraordinary genius
may sometimes succeed in a new line, anticipating
the teachings of experience by the power Of q largo
and rapid Intelligence but such cases are only one
in a thousand. and with such chances against him
y the farmer is not wise who abandons his farm, and
jncurs the risk Of a business of which he knows
i potbipg.-Ohi Fdrmer.