Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-24
For the VERMONT FARMER.
A Tragedy and What Came of 1t.

l remember of reading, not long ago,
somewhere, an account of two young farmers
who gathered up their scanty wardrobe into
bundles, swung them upon their hoes and
over their shoulders, left the paterual home
and started out to seek their fortunes in a
new country. Thsy had their birth in a
sunny lane; they settled upon nearly the
same parallel and in climate similar to the
one they had left. The soil Of the new coun-
try was very productive. The crops grew
with less labor and in greater abundance
than they do upon the semi-sterile hills of
New England that have been urged for SO
many years to deliver up their treasures
without suitable returns. lndeed-if l re.
member the narrative-these brothers were
among the pioneers, and it is presumable
that the virgin soil brOugh forth its increase
quite to the satisfaction Of the young adven-
tnrers.
II seems that the elder brother turned his
attention exclusively to the cultivation of the
soil, and that, through some unaccountabe
whm, he would not harbor a domestic animal
upon his farm. Cotswolds and NJ rinos ;
Shorthorns aud Alderneys; Morgans and
Abdallahs and gallinaceous biddies were
despised and rejected as destitute Of comeli-
ness and profit.
The younger brother was exactly the con.
verse of the eldsr--a strange disparity Of
tastes in two men having the same blood in
their veins. He would give no manual or
brain work TO the cultivation of the soil but
he had weakness for the genius ouis that
finally cost him his life. BY thus giving his
whole attention to this speciality, he became
one of the most notable sheep graziers in his
adopted counRy.
BY giving their undivided attention to a
single branch in other words, being men of
one idea, these brothers naturally excelled
in the oxcellency Of their goods, and soon
became renowned throughout all the country
But like all others who have but "one string
to their bow" they sometimes suffered by Q
depreciation Of their goods and were otter
short Of cash. 1t is quite likely that these
brothers made their goods interchangeable,
the one delivering up his fruits and vegetables
for the wool and mutton of the other, anC
that by this interchange neither suffered fol
the necessaries or cOnveniences of life,
Time passed. The brothers grew in per
sonal goods and domain in self.adulatiou
and concet. Aud it is more than probable
as the sequel shows, that they began about
this time to habor towards each other feel
ings of jealousy, and possibly of il-will.
The first fair on record was held in th
new home Of our heroes in regular sequenc,
with the events here described. Eacl
brought in the products of his farm; al
were displayed and arranged with as mucl
skill as could be expected of novices in tn
new art in the rustic apartments improvise'
for the occasion. The younger brother wa
|
rebukod for supposing that fruits aud yege
tables could compete with wSol and mutton
This repulss of the elder brother kindle
the embers of jealosy already in his hear
into a flame, and he at once determined upo
revenge. SO one day finding his brothe
alone he destroyed his life. The king {
, the realm soon came along and not seeing tn
young man made inquiries concerning hi
) absence. The living brother was equivoca
} evasive, finally indignant that he should b.
called upon to account for his brothers ab
5 ssnce, circumstance he disclamed q
: knowledge of and all responsibility for. Th
n king was inexorablo aud not to be deceived
q The surviving brother was unable to prov
r au abb, aud received his sentence in thi
!. the earth should not hereafter yield her il
d crease, and in sundry other calamities.
o This tragedy and the pomOlogcal dificu
: ty the parents got into seems to have ups
y the plan of idloness limited at in the divir
IoOOIu ahu luau W VI WI
d "sweat" aud "Weeds." But man is a beir
Of many resources he has sought out mar
>, inventions and has the happy faculty
l. laughing at obstacles and turning adversii
Ie into prosperity. Ho may have had divil
D aid in turning these penal sentences into
it blessing this is problem for the theol
gian. 1t only concerns us to know that !
Dor is blessing, and that nobody can affo
'r to do without it. A glance at the ignOra
it and degraded tribes aud communities with
l. the tropics who have little to do but to gath
to their food from the spontaneous products
l. of the soil, is sufficient proof.
ID But here arises question that deman
l. an answer. What is labor in its true a.
n comprehensive Specification 1t is I
n- proper use and exercise of all the iaeulti
il physical and mental that the person m
ht develop into aphyslcal and intellectual gia
d, 1t is not to work with the hands and neEl
y mental culture-this is bat half OF it. 1t
IS not to work with the brain and entirely