The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-03-18
FoL. ?, no. 80.
From the Genesee Farmer
FaR.uLEG as Il Eoc.qTYON.

FARMING as Il VOC.q7TO.R.
The author Of this received the prize fo-
''the best essay calculated to give farmers an
aqaedate conception of the ma. ure and worth Of
their vocation"
The life of the farmer has ever been eonsid-
cred by himself one OF toll aud. drudgrty, but
with how much reason, it may be well. TO ask
TO investigate and become satisfied. fl is the lot
OF man to have an occupation. Ifnd ntcessa-
ry ior living, II is made means Of obtain;ue
wealth, lame or power, few born OF wealth
OF titles, pursuing no call but that of pleasure
Such lead miserable lives, and do little or no
good IN the world. 1T is appointed unto all
men to work. Ii is necessary to'health, STRENGTH
comfort, and happiness. But 10 work, IT is not
! necessary to guide the plow or harrow, to WELD
! the axe or scyihe, TO sow or reap. There are
other kinds OF work, equally laborious and IA
tiguing-other occupations more wearing to the
system, and attended with less pleasure. In
tins country, there are more men engaged ia
farming than IN any other occupation, aad in
the rural districts, they constitute large ma
Jorlty OF the inhabitants, and, as consequences
SEE and know little OF the drudgery of other
occupations. In their visits TO the mechanic
or manufactured, they see him sheltered from
The storms and cold, they notice that bis skin is
less tawny, his hands softer and winter, and it s
but natural that they should think his labor less
hard than theirs. They see The merchant be-
hInd The counter smiling to his customers, or at
hls desk counting his money, and they cannot
think he works and they 90 away wishing
wishing that Providence had been SO kind 10
them. They see The lawyer advocating the
cause OF his client, uttering with eloquence wit
ty or grave sentences, bringing tears to The eys
or laughter TO The countenance of Judge jury
and spectators and they go away repining
that the gifts OF Providence were SO partially
bestowed. They see not The mechanic at work
by his lamp, while farmers are, reading BY their
fresldes they see him not with bis accounts,
dH2IousIy iookIng forwaru to The llIue when his
payments become due, his -four barrel out tbav
! see not the anxious care-worn countenance offbe
anerchant, while alone in his Office. lust before
his bank note becomes due, and no money 10
meet IT ; and they see not the LAWYER in the still
hours ofthe night, with aching head and weari-
ed eyes, looking up authorities 10 sustain his
cause on the eve of rial
1t IS they themselves-the farmers-that
have set I1s stamp of drudgery upon their occu-
Pati0n,amuSo one else admits oAhMunEes it. The
lawyer, the doctor, the merchant and the me-
chanic, envy the farmer his farm and his hap
bread butter and chess his fruits.
meats and bis grain, the product of his owa. La
Dor, that he can eat with an appetite sharpened
by museaAaas-exercise, and knowing that thev
are pure and healthy. Ask the mechanic what
1s STRIVING for, and what is his aim. For
home, n nlsce q lsgd tbat tbat-.lSan .lSan cultivate, and
eat the lrnitS Of nasA-a%a-Eajsing the saak6haat
will tedAsaan that he hopes 10 end his@a+s upon
a farm and the doctor will tell YOU tho