The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1867-12-19
FARMERS COLUMN.
The Farm as a Home:

he Earlu thS a AAOmc.
There is one feeling about the owner.
ship Of land, especially Of a farm, which
gives us great deal of pleasure and
confidence. 1t is not merely a pride Of
owning so many acres of land, or pos
sessing certain number of cattle and
horses, but the fact that we 0Wn a hons
that it is ours to enjoy aud possess, to
improve and cultivate, and at last to
hand down as an inheritance to our
children. This is one of the great
hesrt-pleasures of most farmers; and
although they may not give expression
to it, 1t is ever uppsrmost in their
thoughts
| How dear to thousands Of hearts are
the ''farm homesteads,' to be found in
all portions of our country. They are
hallowed, perhaps, as our birth-placss
as the spots where we passed our boy
hood, or girlhOod; the fields, the
orchards, the brooks, are all identified
with the pleasures Of early life. And
those pleasures were the sweetest we
ever enjoyed Alas and we shall never
witness their return, nor any joys or
pleasures that will be half as dear to u.s.
There is the old farmhouse. II may
be unpainted, unsightly in architecture
its appearance neglected, and perhaps
it is in the possession of strangers,
And there are the fields which we have
moved, plowed, sown and planted year
after year. Every part Of the old farm
has been trodden by our feet, and every
acre improved by eur hands. There,
too, is the great barn, SO often filed
with fragrant hay and golden grain,
from which we used to hear the "thud'
of fails, and the merry voices of husk-
ing frolics.
How many thousands of people whs
never owned farms, have concluded
they would purchase one at the evening
of life. What for7 not because they.
preferred hard labor, nor that they
desired a change of life merely for its
novelty. The idea is that they want
home; rural property with which
they can be identified a stronghold
and refuge against the tide of mister
tunei business that is not dependent
upon the whins and capriees of others,
nor subject to the general fluctuations,
disasters and sbipwrecks of trade. It
is the stability, safety, independence of
landed estate that makes us fly to the
farm, rather than continue in business
that is perhaps more profitable, but is
subject to greater vicisitudes, anxietieS
and perils.
As a relief from mental labor, from
professional cares, commercial losses,
and, often from domestic Affections, how
many men find a refuge on the farm -
If the mind is shattered by excessive
mental employment, or broken down
by misfortune, or some great sorrow,'
there is balm, consolation, and often
permanent cure in the pursuit of agri-
culture and its kindred arts This is
not mystery, but great medical fact
The change of occupation has its infu.
ence; physical labor supplants intel
lectual drudgeryi the care of domestic
animals opens a new fountain of SYM
pathy; the air and sunshine rein
vigorates the health; and the fact that
you own, possess and have full domin-
ion over the hills and valleys, the herds
and focks, the buildings, and the soil
on which they stand, gives you'a feel
ing of superiority, confidence and inds-
pendence.
A writer whose heart was about a.
warm as ours, who had great love fer
farm-life, and appreciated the farm as q
home, expressed himself as follows:-
"When / come within sight of my
farm, after having been away, pleas
ant sensation rises within me that no
other feeling can equal. These are my
acres, which the combined power of the
country has guaranteed to me. 1t is
mine, and my heirs forever. Here is
security. If there is anything stable
in the world, this is it. My freside is
therefore built upon a firm foundation.
l and my children are safe. We are
not intruded upon; no one has right
to do this; the strong arm of the law
is ever ready to defend us. Here !
have my worship undisturbedi attend
to my concerns unmolested. In a word :,
/ am at home. Farm and FTeSide.