The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-06-27
Ghf farmer.


A correspondent Of the COanfy Gentle
man writing from Elmira, New York,
draws the following pleasant picture Of
farm life:
One great reason why complaint is 50
often made that afarming don't pay is
that we do not credit the conveniences
and Injuries that the farm affords us at
their full value. lean see no reason why lux,
uries are more worthlessto the weary, hard
working farmer, than they are to the city
gentleman I say l,srnrlies- that is the
proper word. Pure sweet milk and but.
ter, fresh and perfectly ripened fruit
horses and carriages, roomy dooryards, the
lovely society Of birds, pure air and the
quiet and retirement Of country life, are
looked upon as Injuries BY every class Of
people except farmers, who accept them as
matter ofcourse, and forget to feel thank
ful for them. ] think one reason why
discomfort is so common among farmers,
is that we allow distance to lend enchant-
ment to our view. We forget that thou
sands Of our city neighbors are envying US
the peculiar blessings which we enjoy
while VIC in turn envy them because their
ledgers show better balances than our own.
The food, shelter and conyenienccs which
make life tolerable have precise value Of
their own; and this value is the same
when it is enjoyed by farmer, as by a
manufacturer Or merchant We are look
ing at matters from wrong standpoint, IL
z we fail to acknowledge these facts.
It is evident that employments 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 mer-
chants business yields l believe that, as
q rule, the farmer knows far less Of the
anxietics that attend getting living, than
most business men Of equal property.
His capital can neither burn up, nor be
stolen from him; and though his income
is dependent upon the wind and weather,
statistics prove that these are much less
disastrous than the contingencies of COM
merce and finance.
There is a class Of farmers who are liv-
ing only to grasp more acres. Their farms
can never be large enough, nor can their
workmen or themselves ever do quite
enough work. They cannot be satisfied
with the income Of farm, nor could they
be with that Of any other business. But
those who understand that the highest OBJ
ject Of labor is not simply to make money,
but 10 provide the largest amount of the
means Of improvement and innocent en-
joyment that the world affords can make
the pursuit Of agriculture furnish more
Injuries that really contribute to our we'll
being, than any other employment requir-
Ing an equal amount Of capital, Their
farms are not 80 large as to make slaves Of
themselves and their sons, and their wives
and daughters are not worn out with in
cessant drndgsry. Their door yards bios
som with flowers, their tables are supplied |
with many varieties Of well-gown delicious
fruit, their houses are made cheerful by |
the influence Of books and music, and q |
taste for the pure and innocent enjoy |
ments Of life isdeyeloped in their children. |
Here then a farmers home exempli6es all |
the contentment and happiness possible to
q race doomed 10 labor and disappointment: |
and though few and far between, they
prove that Washington was correct when |
he mid; Agriculture is the most useful, |
the most healthfil the most noble employ |
menf Of man..