Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-27
Stick to the Farm,


greatest mistake young man can make.
at the present time, is to desert the old
homestead aud abandon the shadow of the
roof tree that has so long sheltered
him. He goes out into the untried world
to seek his fortune. With favorng winds,
with the right turn of the tide, he may win
but the chances are mostly against him
The sea Of humanity be voyages is full OF
wrecks, and the shores are strewn with
the decaying hulks of disappointed hopes,
shattered day-dreams, and unrealized am
billions. Where one wins. ten fail.
Where one hews his way straight to fame
and fortune-to money and eisure--ten
bend their backs in ceaseless toll and in
the continuous battle for bread and butter
The abandonment of the farm and the
rush to the city may account in large
measure for the depressing times on which
we have fallen. The learned professions
are oyercrowded. Third and fourth rate
ministers are made ut the loss of first
class farmers. The young man ran when
the Lords call was meant for another.
Many farm has been mortgaged to grind
an only son through college and the theo-
logical seminary, and parents and friends
and the young man himself are filed with
amazement because calls from rich
churches are not as thick as backberries.
He ought to have stuck to the farm.
Many pale, sickly cadaverous Young
men are handling yard sticks to-day. who
ought to be on the farm handling goad
stick, with strong, robust healthful bodies.
Many are pedding pills or prescribing for
patients, TO The lattening Of graveyards and
furnishing employment to the UNDER
taker and superintendent of burials,
who ought now in this early SPRING
time to be casting their calculating eye
over their broad acres and making ar
engagements for the activities of seed time.
Others are frittering their lives away
in mental occupations in the stihed
atmosphere of the crowded cities, who in
the clear bracing air of the country might
vault at once into the position of lords of
the soil. Every profession. every manu-
featuring. mercantile ald mechanical bus
mess is over-crowded; in fact, men are
being crowded ont OF them by the less |
ening of wages; and they have three
things to choose-just three starvation. |
crime, or the farm the question resolv- !
ing itself into this propostion-shall we
multiply prisons. or farms?
In view of these facts-apd facts they
are, not the imaginings OF dreamer-iti is |
an encouraging phase of the present out
look, that the hard times are driving men |
to the farms and to the tillage of the soil. |
1t will have done grand work for
Maine, if it will send back to the desert
ed hillsides and vallies, her homesick.
disappointed children, anchored now by |
foolish pride to the corpse OF some bank |
rupt concern that is striving TO keep lis |
head above water and appear respectable.
Farming is not brilliant occupation, but
it is a mighty safe one. Following il |
diligently, one does not rise to sudden
riches, or fall to sudden poverty.
1t may be that hundreds are ready TO
return to the cultivation of the soil. but
have not the requisite courage to make
the venture. Capital is an important req |
uisite, but not the only one. A man with
out dollar can obtain foothold upon a
foot of virgin soil, and hew his way to
broad acres, if he have the strong arm
and pucky viii. He needn't spread him
self over a hundred acres he may be-
come too thin in the operation but il will
surprise the industrious toiler to know
how much Of real wealth and comfort lie
embedded ID the bosom of q few acres
OF soil, such as may be found upon the hill.
sides of Maine. The day never dawned
when farms could be bought at 50
cheap price. simply because the
owners are too old and deerenit
for labor Excellent farms can he
brought at the mere cost of the buildings
upon them. A man with few hundred
dollars can make no better investment
or onefhat will yield more abundant divi-
dends of health. comfort, peace and
prosperity. Money that men fritter away
in small vices, or 10 seeking employment
In the over-crowded centres of trade and
business, will form handsome amount
for the first payment on q permanent