The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-04-10
CANNOT WORK ON FARMS.

1t is an unfortunate fact that there
are great number of young men here,
not to speak of the middled-age drones,
who are not only out of employment,
but insist upon it that they cannot en-
gage in that which all admit Is the
foundation of all prosperity and the de-
cadence of which is the chief cause of
our misfortunes, the culture of the soil.
Quite a number Of those who thus dis
claim capacity to.follow the best exam
pies of good men and patriots, of all
past ages, who have turned from the
marts Of trade and forum to the Ilow,
even in their latter days, are them
selves the sons of fariiiers and planters.
To such ashonestly distrust their abil-
ity to successfully work the Sod for
want Of practical knowledge of agricul-
ture, we would suggest the propriety of
allying themselves with those who do,
and who are engaged on farms, and to
learn thereby the art offarming. Those
who wish to learn thus will make no OBJ
lection to this. Even tyros can have a
share in the crops thus made. ff#
Itseems strange that men who live
from hand to mouth, and never lay up a
dollar, should object to farmers life
because they are not sure of making
more than living, while of the latter
they may be sure, unless they pitch
their crop for a money making rather
than for living making one. How
many ofthese clerks and poorer profess
sional men have dollar over at the end
of the year, oreven square foot OF land
at the end of lifetime?
Yet the farmer can, in his garden and
poultry yard, and ten acres of farming
lots, to which he can readily acquire an
indeteasible title, make a most ample
living for himself and family, and, If he
have only an ordinarily healthy wife,
she can double his income without as
much weariness as she now experiences
in attempting to keep up appearances
in town. The experiences as to how to
do this is easily acquired, if the will be
Industrious, persevering and frugal,
only exists, and is only carefully nur-
tured.
Men who steadfastly and successfully
encountered the heat of summer and
the cold of winter during the four years
of war, who camped in swampy moras-
ses, who fought and marched at quick
step on the great battle-tields of the
South in the summer solstice, need new.
er fear that they cannot bear the labors
and exposure Of agriculture.
AS to those whose constitutions are
really unequal to that task, neither need
they lounge about the corners, seeking
for employment with the yard stick OF
counter scales, or hunting patients oil
clients in ''the vastly Deep" whence they
come not. Let all these apprentice
themselves at once to an honest and use.
tul mechanical trade and have thai
which will, in the country, make then
ever welcome, if sober and quiet citizens
and will never make their intrinsic
value less anywhere.
1t was made reproach to England
once by rival, that it was ''nation o
shopkeepers," but no one ever thought
| less of one which was nation of farm
ers and mechanics. 1t is ever credita'
BILE to be known as man OF industry
but scorn and contempt follow the will.
fully idle, though the eye only, and moi
the finger. be pointed at them.-N o.
| PicdYlne.