The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-09-20
NUMBER 20.
Farmers' Bows.

/ Not many years since well known
Ohio Congressman said to the writer
"a, there is 4 vacant cadetship al
| West Point; there is also midshipman
to disappointed at Annapolis-both from
our district will give your son choice
of the places"
The generous offer was warmly made,
and accompanied with many thanks for
services rendered him in a political
campaign; but on the writer's part
without the slightest expectation of any
return. The offer was therefore a sur
prise, and seemed so much TO require
consideration that it was a minute be-
fore / could answer him at all. During
! that minute ! had time to call up mem-
ories of my own early struggles, fighting
the way up through weary years of toll
and waiting, and patient self-denial,
into the possession Of q business, with
out any friendly aid. Ny boy was
seventeen years old, and could doubtless
pass the necessary examination at either
place; but then he was all the boy had.
L thought of the farm; the broad mead
ows lately underdrained; the winding
driveway newly graveled, with trees
grouped alongside; the orchard and
woods, and the cattle Oh the hillside;
and j wondered who would take his
place in our Robinson CrusOe kingdom
if he went away. Then of what use had
been all the pains and labor for beauti-
flying and enriching the farm, il he were
not TO succeed to its management and
enjoyment?
My mind was made up. The tempta-
tiOn was declined with thanks, much to
the surprise of my friend, by simply
telling him l was as able to educate the
boy rs "Uncle Sam and thought
could give him fully as honorable 4
career.
Since then two years have passed.
The lad is rapidly growing into man
hood, broad shouldered and muscular as
a young Hercules. Regular daily labor
i'm ploWing, aud harvesting, and hauling
has not interfered with rational enjoy
ments, but has given keener relish for
them. Should the time come, some
day, when daily labor is no longer nee
essaIy for the making of livelihood, he
will enter on middle age with the man
well developed physically, and with the
mind stored with practical knowledge o.
husbandry. / don't know but this j. q;
good practical knowledge TO have Oh
! hand as any other, and as fitting for
gentleman as law, physic or merchan
dising.
The present summer we had visitO
an old friend from the salty sea. II
was rejoicing in Il ten days leave O
absence, and enjoying himself like
schOol-bOy at home on q holiday. Tn
sweltering uniform and the regulation
cap of the navy had been left in th
lockers of the iron-clad he commanded
and he sailed up the drive into our plac
clad in the loosest kind of citizens rig
4 tfraar u,
wide-brimmed straw hat, that he wa
pleased to call "Greeley.n
He said to me one day: "Old fellow,
| were the owner of your farm ant
stock, would heartily exchange place
with the Admiral. 1 could then be 4
home with my wife and children. Dur
ing twenty-siX years of service I havt
been seventeen years at sea. There i
not q sea on the globe 1 have not saileC
on and hardly port ] have not entered
am tired of the service in time of peace
but l have no other profession, and n,
income but my pay. / have no futur,
that is not like the past. / am subiec
TO orders that may, without notice
change my plans. They can send me, a
any moment, the lord knows where. ,
These were despairing words uttered
by homeless man; no merely prOfes
SiOhIl dcuicEeHielil OF reputation cOult
fill the void. \ bold navigator anC
famous guu-bOat commander, he is the
pet of his superiors and their favOritt
officer to entrust with expeditions re-
quiring skill and audacity. Though hC
will have an honored name in the
annals of the navy, the sum of his life
rs footed by himself, is n failure.
/ / thought of the Congressman temp
tatiOn, and told my friend the story. He
pointed to the waving harvest fields anG
said that he too thought my kingdom
wisely governed, and that it ought t
pass to my successor by inheritance
JTdtchm0Hs Journal.