Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-02-14

A G RIG U L 7 U R A l..
From The New England Farmer.
"a FARMERS SON"

"A - ~ ~ A. - - - - ~
al shall wal, patiently for your advice, whe,h-
er I had better stick 10 the farm or something
else."
The above quotation find in the closing sem
scuce Of letter published in your valuable pa.
yer, and signed "A Farmers SON. / rejoice
to see that his communications have been re-
piled 10 truthfully and ably, both edtorially and
otherwise, and hope they will exert salutary
influence, not only upon him, but upon thou
sands Of others of like stamp, who are con-
siantly deserving the farm for something, or
anything little more attractive in imagination,
but too frequently turn out to be very much less
SO in reality.
am but plain, common farmer, now upon
the down-hill Of life, unaccustomed 10 writing
for sthers TO read, without early advantages of
any kind except what little knowledge could
pick up in reading and study at the fire-side in
the long winter evenings of my youth, the days
being occupied in chopping and hauling wood,
rhreshing, and feeding horses, cattle and sheep.
/ did, however, attend district school one win
ter two months, and should have been blessed
with another month, had not the schoo-house
taken FIRE one prodigious cold night, and burnt
down. This was a damper upon my hopes.
! had Unexpectedly graduated in all the Eng
fish branches had commenced and even before
could write a legbe hand. But the farm
was my delight stuck to it, and without
dollar 10 the world, except what could be earn
ed by farm labor, and investing the proceeds of
lhis labor in productive farm after many years
of severe toll, can now survey the past with
c,ctio and tha FIJI ,phatoypr
10 me in time, with pleasurable anlicipations Of
pecuniary ease and independence.
know, Mr.. Editor, that the early part Of
this brief history cannot be very flatterng to
"a farmers son. but my case was exception,
not the rule even Of those times, much less Of
the present now, money is much more abund-
ant, much easier obtained, farm wages have
doubled, and nothing but industry, economy and
prudence, coupled with energy and good judy
ment, with fair share of common sense, can
fail TO render young man starting in life per-
fectly independent, ny sticking to agricultural
pursuits, by the time he is 35 years old. II
he cannot ge. ahead fast enough here in New
England, how easy il is, with few hundred
dollars in his pocket, to emigrate to the west,
where lands are more productive and much
cheaper; and how sure it is that in the end he
mus, become wealthy if there is enough of him
TO make man in any avoca,ion.
/ know there are some few who make for
tunes in other pursuits, in merchandising, in
specializing, in the professions; but few they
are, comparatively. think ii has been ascer-
rained that but Ave Of each one hundred of city
merchants succeed in the end. Some few 9th
ers may live from hand to mouth, hut the ma
jorty go under The auc,ioheer's hammer. The
mechanic, the next most useful class TO the
farmer, if industrious, ought to succeed bu
generally, as a class, they fall behind the farm
ers in wealth and influence.
Again, there is satisfaction TO those VIII,
have taste for the cultivation Of the soil TIL,
pursuit Of agriculture has tendency TO expan,
the mind, as we are continually in the mid.t q
NATURES works, inviting 10 contemplation, +
reflection, to the admiration of the beauty an
harmony, the benevolence and goodness of a
all-wise Creator, who commanded that the I'll
ling OF the earth should be the first and fore
most occupation of man and we have the sal
isfacton 10 feel and 10 know that we are benz
factors Of our race, that all are benefited an
none injured by our calling. ara
We seek not to appropriate the labor Of oil
ers to ourselves; we do not'live upon the mi
fortunes Of our fellow-men, nor are we beho
den TO public patronage, TO the whms and CT
prices of the multitude for a livelihood "
have the promise Of 'seed-tme and harvest
and if we are faithful to our trust, each retur
ing year is sure to replenish our granaries ar
increase our focks and herds. There is no NJ
cessity for making life scene Of unceasing to
and vexation. Skill, judgment, order and sy
ten are essential, and when these are combine,
ahings will 60 smooth, and the farm will b.
come profitable anu remunerative.
Though | say it not in a spirit Of boasin
yet among all my youthful companions, mar
of whom left the farm for what they deemed
more lucrative business, not one now in Il
land of the living, land those who have go
have died poor,) would | exchange condition
with, pecuniarily, for thousands Of dollars, al
yet the story Of my early poverty and small b
ginnings has not half heen told and for Il
benefit of youth who are becoming tired Of Il
farm, ! will add few words descriptive of II
discouraaements of my early life, though ,hrc
out the whole, never entertained an idea
changing my purpose, or doing anything ell
but farming.
At ten years Of age was turned out to tai
my chance in the world, and earned liyil
with one farmer until fourteen, then with a
DINER seven years more, for living and 81!
10 start with al twenly-one. The next We
paid the funeral charges and those of the Ia
sickness OF an unfortunate father, for MAJ
years beTeit of his reason. Seventeen YEA
from this, committed the remains Of wortI
and aifecsionate mother TO the grave, whom
had supported in poor health ever after | /
came OF age. These were hard times, and
couraging circumstances, bot I never put r
hand to the pillow and looked back knew II
God would help them who tried to helm the
selves, and energy and perseverance,, with