The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-09-30
The FARMERS, Luxurlss.

A correspondent of the Country
| GenaemtR writingfrom Elmira, New
York, draws the following pleasant
picture offarm life.
lone great reason why complaint
is so often made that, farming don't
paw is that we do not credit the con-
~veniences and luxuries thatthe farm
affords US, at their full value. | can
see no more reason why luxuries are
worthless to the weary, hard working
farmer, than they are TO the city
gentleman. | say lur1T5es, that is
The proper word. Pure sweet milk
and butter, fresk and perfectly riPened
fruit, horses and carriages, roomy
door-yards, the lovely society o birds,
pure air and the quiet and retirement
Of country life, are looked upon as
luxuries by every class Of people ex-
cept farmers, who accept them as q
matter Of course, and forget to feel
thankful for them. Think n rea-
son why discomfort is so common
among farmers, is that we allow dis
lance to LEND eRchantment to our
view. We forget that thousands of
our city neighbors are engying US
the peculiar blessings which We enjoy,
while we in turn envy them because
their ledgers show better balances
than our own. The food, shelter,
and coaveniences which make life
tolerable have precise value of their
own; and this value j the same
when enjoyed by a farmer, as by a.
manufactures or merchant We are
looking at matters from a wrong
standpoint, if we fail to acknowledge
these facts.
1t is evident that ~pegsuits that
yield only money, must give larger
cash returns than those which produce
much that contributes directly to our
sustenance. The farm, therefore,
should not be expected to yield the
same percentage that the merchants
business does. 1 believe, that as a
rule, the farmer knows far less of the
anxieties that attend getting a living,
then most business mep Of equal
property. His capital Ca. neither
burn up, nor be stolen from him; and
though lis income is dependent upon
wind and weather, statistics prove
that there are much less disastrous
than the contingencies Of commerce
and finance.
There is 4 class Of farmers who are
living only to grasp more acres.
Their farms can never be large
enough, nor can their workmen nor
themselves ever do quite enough
work. They cannot be satisfied with
the income of q farm, nor could they
be with that of any other business.
But those, who understand that the
highest object oflabor is not simply
to make money, but to provide the
largest amount Of the means Il i'm
proyement and innocent enjoyment
that the world affords, can make the
pursuit of agriculture furnish more
~luxuries that really contribute to our
well-being than any ether employment
requiring an equal amount Of capital.
Their farms are not so large so as to
make slaves Of themselves and sons,
and their wives end daughters are
not worn out with incessant drudge
ry. Their door-yards blossom with
flowers, their tables are supplied with
many varieties Of well-grywn and
delicious fruit, their houses are made
cheerful by the influence of BOOKS aad
music, and q taste for the pure and
innocent enjoyment Of life is develop
ed in their children. Here and there
a farmer exemplifes all the content
ment and happiness possible to a race
doomed to labor and disappointment,
though few and far between they
prove that Washisgton was correct
who he said"
Agriculture is the most useful, the
most healthfal, and the most noble
employment Of man"