The Republican journal., 1871-01-05
VOLUME Al.
"EARNESTNESS IN LIFE"

When Goethe uttered the foregoing words his
genius seemed to discover the watchwords OF the
opening of the 10Th century. But one cannot be
earnest simply by desiring eanestness as an abstract
quality. One can hardly lash or goad himself INTO
a sincere genuine enthusiasm, for man can hard
ly be enthusiastic about nothing 10 be earnest,
therefore, one must have a definite conVlcton.
Given an object, motive power, and earnestness,
genuine earnest ness, will, ay, must follow. Now
it is hard, yea, quite impossible we deem, to engage
in works of progress and Improvement, without be-
inc earnest, really enthusiastic in what he engages.
1t is no whit less important for success in farming
than it is in the learned professions. A minister
without earnestness, without junction, will be sur
rounded by sleepy Or arowsy, needless auditors if
10 call them hearers be not Il mlsnOmer. SO II Is
with the farmer; he must have earnestness in his
calling, for without it his life will be hardly better
than round Of drudgery and toll which are weari-
ness to the flesh. But let him be earnest in his yo
cation and all is changed; what was hardly better
than slavery, now becomes 4 source of perennial
pleasure; what toll or drudgery before, now
takes the semblance of recreaton for really that
seems to be recreation which recreates and perpe-
uates of new life, feeling of pleasure and
satisfaction.
The great lack and therefore the great want
among the majority of our New England farmers.
is, and has been for generations, genuine earn
vocation. Thfs things will continue just
long as the desire and purpose prevail to quit farm
ing Just so something else shall Offer or
seem to turn up to allow OF doing So With all
such life is question of profit and loss, the latter
seeming 10 De Inc CNlel caracleflStc OF ttlcN iV-
count book, and so ii must continue to be until the
question shall be decided whether farming is TO be
pursued as te's vocation, or abandoned at the first
seeming opportunity for doing so. 10 be earnest
in any business Il man must throw his whole soul
into it and unless he does, his life will be failure
and be reckoned of the class of whom il is said, it
would seemingly have been better had they not
been born.-a most sad and discredtable sequel Of
lives passed III world full OF opportunities for do
ing good and receiving good.
The question decided. that | am best fitted for
farming OF anything, and eafnestness is born, and
all the hitherto latent energies of life are aroused to
action; knowledge is sought: every opportunity for
gaining ii is improved; farmers clubs are attended;
lectures are heard the agricultural press is LIBERAL
ly patronized and the contents of the journals re-
ceived thoroughly and carefully read, which
was not the case before; hints and suggestions
from experience and observations are treasured and
needed; life has new ends and aims and new
pleasures; everything wears new hue; what was
drudgery becomes source OF delight; such man
will say ii is good for me that | WAS bOrn and his
neghbors will add, is good for Ms too and for the
world, that such man has lived. Boston Guilt
Naor.