The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-04-20
AGRICULTURAL.
The Independent Farmer.

What an enviable position is his, in this
time Of financial depression his granaries
full comfortable barns and sheds, with stock
in fine condition, good home, with cellar
full of the good things that 60 to satisfy the
inner man, and better than all, does not owe
dollar in the world. Prices of grain and
stock may go down, it matters little to him;
he has. no need to sell, he can quietly wait
until the tide OF prices again reaches high
wqter mark. Stocks may tumble banks
break it is nothing to him heis independ-
ent of them all
wish,the farmers on their farms in the
Northwest, in this time Of their anxiety and
doubt, could look upon this older country
and sec how comfortable farmers can becon c
ir only they will be content to slowly and
steadily improve their farms. They could
learn the lesson here too, that the successful
farmer keeps out of debt. Over many a
lovely home hangs the impending mortgage,
which, when it falls will wipe out the work
of years, and send tho worker into lands
anew with broken energies and shortened
hopes
There has been much written about the
wretched way farmers live. 1t is true that
all iaraers have not learned to live well in
the midst Of their abundance it is also true
that people in other positions in life have
failed in this important thing. In fact, the
Americans,as q people, have not learned the
art of 4iviug well, and perhaps the nearest
approach to it may be found among the in
dependent farmers Those'who make sucl
sweeping assertions should live under "Un
Gle Johns" roof awhile, sit down three time;
day 10 lnc bountful table, see how he 9
farmer all his life, carefully and generously
serves thedelicious!y cooked food. See the
hospitablo Kenucky-bred woman at the
head Of the table, who after life ou a farm
Of lorty-fve years is yet As careful that hei
table shall be as well spread for her own
family as most people are when they have
invited company; and This farmers home i,
not an exception in thi, regard.
There are farmers all over the State thai
are feeling the effects of the hard times Sc
verely, but little they know what hard times
mean to those who live in the cities and the
towns, and have no homes, and do not know
Que day where the food or the fuel is to com,
from orthe next day. Right in our rich an(
fruitful State, Thousands Of people are suffer
ing what no words can portray, while ever.
class of our people feel the pressure in
greater on less degree. What is this pres
sure? Why does this cloud hang over us
a people who have the right and also tn
power to right every wrong within ourselves
People at the very door of starvation, disas
ter staring every body in the face as it were
Can any one think of what the discomtor
and suffering in our own State this winter
in the aggregate, and not stand appalled, {;
the thought?
OF what avail are our free institutions, ou
right to free speech and free thought, {
what use are our free schools and univers
ties, if we cannot solve the problem of ho'
to live comfortably in land of abundance
If an enlightened people do not find a rem
ody for an evil that is upon them, it is di:
graceful. If they see the way, and fail t
strike the blow that would set them free,
is criminal.-RomG ", Hoods in lIeSter
Farm Joarnal.