Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-12-15
AN ADDRESS
DELIVERED BEFORE THE
Williamstown Agricultural Association,
Friday, Oct. q, 1859.
BY NERR sIMoks.

AS this Is mainly an Agricultural gath
ing-a gathering of farmers, farmers wiz
and farmers sons and daughters-I suppt
the most appropriate subject for dscussi
is that Of Agriculture; and the remarks
propose to make here to day-will be up
that theme. We're disposed to treat il
subject as it is usually treated on occasio
like this, | should first refer you to the a
tiquity of the farmers calling. Tell you he
men first engaged in this employment, in a
ciont days, when Time was young. He
Abel, and the Patrlarchs of those olden da,
were tillers Of the soil how the government
OF those renowned historic countries, Gree
and Rome, did much to encourage this er
ployment; how Cato, the learned Censor, w
farmer, and wrote the first treatise upt
this subject; how Cincinatus was in his fie
leaning upon his spade, when the messeng
sent for the purpose hailed him as Dictator
how, in more modern days, the kings ar
princes at times left their royal palaces, an
engaged in this occupation; how Washin,
ton, though his grateful countrymen wer
anxious to bestow upon him the highest honor
in their gift, chose to return to the rural d,
lights of Mount Vernon; how Jefferson passe
the happiest portion of his life in recaimin
the worn-out estate at Monticello how Jack
son had his secluded Hermitage, Clay hi
Ashland, Webster his farm, upon which h
spent most of his time; and how that dis
tinguished scholar and statesman, Sila
Wright, refused one of our highest offices
and returned to the homey scenes upon hi
farm and there as Benton said, might be sec
taking the forward row with his men in thu
field; how the laborers in this employ ment
pre- generally more independent, happy AMI
intelligent, than those of other employment
low the blessings and delights, of the bracine
nouutain air, the health bubbling spring. thu
Pcauty Of the creeping vine, the waving fruit
nd shade tree, the flower garden in which
Pve and tenderness dwell, the song of birds
he music of tine murmuring stream, and the
emile zephyr, all are theirs. Not disbelieve.
pg the truth of any of this, for how could
he,iving in sight of these noble hills, enjoy.
6 the delights mentioned and above all the
essings of a country having an industrious
rtuous, and intelligent yeomanry, for its
ain pillars. But after all, it is the sub.
Pnce of an olden story; you have heard it
hundred times; it has been clothed in
autiful language and told us by our most
lquent men. ,...
The happiness Of the farmers lot! How
ch of prose and poetry too, there is upon
theme! Yet ! fear that many of us,
ugh we may acknowledge that the farmers
Ing is good one, are continually think.
that perhaps some other one is easier, or
er. fear there is many father, who
not think his son, who is to be farmer
succeed him in the old homestead, needs
borough an education as his other sons,
are to be lawyers or divines. | fear
are many fathers, who are now tilling
POLL themselves, who, if they were enabled
fleet that employment for their most
d sons which they prefer ed to all others,
d hardly chose that of Agriculture. |
there are many mothers, farmers wives
Who would feel more fattered, with the
Pect of their daughters becoming the
OF the merchant, the lawyer or the
r, than of the farmers son, who is too
the occupation of his father. I fear
are very many among the young peo-
lne-tenths of whom must either become
RS, or farmers wives, who are now think.
other employments, instead of fitting
elves to enjoy the one they must surely
if some historical scene, in which
characters bear part, should be
lily transferred to canvass, by skillful
and exhibited for the inspection of
the old Masters Of the art of painting,
eheld the beauty and expression of
ture, all the scenes incident to it, the
5 or emotions actuating the different
ials, these deineated would rush to {
d, and all the inspiration felt by the
pi the painting, would be felt by him.
might talk ever SO eloquently of the |
lnd nobleness of the painting, to his '
ce pupil at his side, yet the pupil t
BIT be able to appreciate it he would v
p become acquainted with the a
rs thee presented, the scenes by n
icy were surrounded, aud above all b
ute that faculty, which would enable a
he beauty from nature, and transfer e
vass. He then would not need the t
and impassionel appeal of the n
pr the inspiration of the author, v
We full possession of him and he Il
and feel the beauty himself. Now
pat one Of our most eloquent men |,
ever so eloquently, of the noble. RI
pendance, and general blessings, of fl
RS calling, to some of US, who are II
pwn-at-the-hecl sort of farmers, A
is had been exhausted of their crop W
gradients, whose fences are never W
until necessity compcls, in whose t,
weeds are suffered to over-top the h
|se cattle, hogs, and horses, are Ia
ut, unsightly and unsaleable kind t,
oquence would be entirely lost, Fl
ould show us way, by which the II
Elements could be returned to our q,
;; show us how our cattle could &C
to those more beautiful and more n,
bow our dilapidated homes could pt
ed for those about which the vine h.
ht to Irvine, the fruit and shade to
g, and the flower garden to bloom in
uld not need biz eloquence upon al
Fs OF the farmers lot for the hap m
Pse who truly understood this oc. ar
puld be ours. a;
then that the remarks needed =
ject of Agriculture, lie farther NO
the wholesale praise so often Oh
it; | shall speak only of the ed
Fhs relating to this subject; and sh
not expect to be able to present tn
or startling, to these practical he
cred together here to-day--but wi
myself to truths, "you your to
W." yet truths we have all failed tn
pr less extent, toput into pracii- eli
n. ID,