Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-09-13
A Writing Farmer.

Writing Farmer.
1t is rather favorite "skit" at farmers
who write for the papers, that they don't
practice what they preach, and frequently
disappoint those who visit them by the SLOW
emily appearance of their premises, the ILL
kept condition of their animals and the
weakness and light returns of their crops.
This charge has a small sub-stratum of truth
in it; yet pretty wide acquaintance with
writing farmers enables us to know that the
foundation for such ill-natured charges is
much less than is asserted by men who may
be good farmers, but are so selfish that they |
not only won't do good and communicate"
themselves, but enjoy sitting in the seat of |
the scorner" and wagging their hard heads |
and comforting their little souls by exagger
ating the defects of their neighbors.
So far as there is truth in the gossip |
of such men about "writing farmers" the
explanation is not at all difficult, nor is it
greatly to the discredit of those who are so
criticised. There is limit 10 the working
ability of every man and woman. So much
can be done in day, and then the night
cometh, ana rest must be TAKEN Inc hard-
headed and hard-hearted human hog, be he
farmer or what not VINO deVotes all us
efforts TO his own seltsh advancement, ana
cares nothing for others good, no doubt
has the advantage IN mere money making
over any neighbor VINO Is Wiling TO devote
part OF his time TO the general good
and such Is the character OF agrlcul-
turai writer's as rule Certainly there IS
no branch oil literary effort where labor
Yields so poor return as IN agricultural
writing AS yet, so little does the average
farmer ana MS family care ior Improvement
IN their own business that ht'ie as they
READ any way, hihe-tehths oil What 'hey 10
read Is the news gossip ana scahdal Oh 'he
day, or the blood and thunder ana cheap
sentiment oil the dime novel ana story paper
rev men ever earn dollar ny Wfluhg upon
agriculture
But IN sun other ways Is the generous
hearted citizen at disadvantage with the
hard-heads IN a rural community MOI only
VIII he lose some time ana strength by MS
writing IL he writes but he IS the one upon
whom ms merciiess critics are sure 10 shlrk
OH all the useini put peeuhlarily uhprohVapie
work oil the neighoorhood' Both III puohs
and church aiiairs the thrifty Door ana ms
gripping helpmeet are TOO busy TO lend
hand but neighbor Iood-heart and sister
charity are delegated 10y unanimous vote
(and GRIN IN the sleeve) TO do the thank &c
Jobs Tor the common good They do them
cheeriuliy' ana great VIII be thelr reward
IN heaven but on earth 1t is probable that
Good-hearts farm and Charity's household
VIII suffer In comparison with the patriotic
and pious neighbors who profit by then
labors, only TO "say all manner OF evil
against them falsely
followed by any personal applications and
indeed we wish them TO be considered mainly
as oil general character, since we are mol
sure that the particular writing farmer OF
whom we are TO speak Is specially sufferer
IN the points spoken OF Yet we have
heard In puoic' ana seen IN the press tna'
our valued correspondent H. H. Jameson
mas endured depreciation as practical man
IN comparison with the teachings OF ms pen
AS we nave recently made nun visit an'
looked over MS iarm' we propose 10 say
lew words about what KIND oil practica