Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-07-25
Dailp Argus.
Greeley Talk.

men ABOUT oVV friends went up TO Chap
paqua, not long since, to call on the next
President, he talked to them as follows:
MY FRIENDS We are met together in Q
merely social gathering for no other pur-
pose than to foster the good feeling and har-
mony that has sprung up between different
parties from widely separated sections of the
Union. propose to say few words, my
sell, on the subject of my farms subject
which certainly excite no apprehensions on
the part of my political friends. It ia twenty
years since my wife and l determined to
move TO this spot. We had lived in the city
and had been married fifteen years. We
lost four children out of six, and we felt if
we did not give the remaining two q home
in the country We might lose them. We
looked around for sometime before we were
satisfied. My wife's wants were few and
humble. She wanted farm that had
hrst-rate spring, an evergreen shade, and q
cascade or ripping water upon it. 1t was
two years before found place 30 soi.
was at Pleasantville making q temperance
speech, when my cid friend, John c. Fergu-
son, here with us to-day, told me of this
farm. l tasted the spring water and was
satisfied. Mrs. Greeley did SO too, and said
il would do decidedly. There was some
difference about the price. When it wAs
discovered that we would pay q certain
price for ii, the other party naturally con
oluded that we would pay a higher price:
We bought it, however, not for the financial
value or for the money return it would make
us, nor because it was all bog and rocks,
upon which | could experiment with my
nf f. valt
get a cascade without rocks, but for its
combined advantages. Beginning with forty
acres, we built the house in the woods,
there is now. The bog grew mosquitoes
and frogs. It had that facility. The con
oerts of the combined productions were not
always unpleasant, though they were rather
untimely. l went to work, and made blum
ders, of course. Every friend predicted
that | would get out in year. l said
that if did the sheriff would sell me out,
though that chance is lost now, for the deeds
are made out in my wife's name, and they
couldn't sell the farm without her consent.
i have been in business of various kinds,
and have lost money. Ii has gone l know
not where; leone where the woodbine
twineth," l suppose, aud every body thinks,
| have been fooling away money here and
while | have possibly sunk money in my
farm, at least know the hole where it went
down. have large assortment of friends
who never come here, but who know Just
what each turnip costs, and who are perfect
| " satisfied that have destroyed every tree
4 in my woods. l love the woods. have 40
affection for my trees, and do noIcut down
TO destroy, but to build up. Where | find
dead or worthless trees hindering the growth
of better ones, and nobler trees, | cut them
down, make room for a nobler growth, and
| | trim off the lower pendant branches Of
the trees, because | know that half of the
woods destroyed BY fire have been lost By
the thick condition of these lower limbs,
which give the FIRE feel and Roadway.
This is the first time that many of You
have been here. l have lived here for TWEEN
~ years. have 8 deep affection for this
place. l hope TO live here and in Gods owu
time TO DIE here. A good farmer would
probably have made money out Of il, but
don't pretend to be good farmer, because
can only work a; farming a few hours il
each week, and that only shout twenty
weeks in a year, and have made the plsct
pay we'll for itself hope that all of you
not all at once, of course, but in gronpl
more weildy than the pressnt-will frequent
" call on me A voice, "Down at th,
White House." Bad farmers make thei
blunders. and 90 bullheAded right along
: Now, have made blunders, new ones Blu
| never kept on making old ones. l than
: you for your presence and attention. vii
now ask Senator Gwyn, Of Mississippi, NOR
4 recently of Cslifornis, to address you, W
will have q number of speeches from tn
. gentlemen here, and take good care ii
train does not leave Us.