The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-03-12
DOES FARMING PAYf

Farming, like every occupation
pays when it is properly carried on. II
the farmer consumes more than he
makes, it will not pay. If he neglects
his stock and permits them to die from
starvation, it will not pay. If he goes
largely in debt, and buys on credit il
will not pay. If he makes no corn
and raises no meat it will not pay.
We met a farmer the other day whose
financial condition we knew nothing
about. We inquired of him, "Do you
buy corn ?" "No, sir; / have not
bought bushel since the war" "Do
you buy meat?" "No, sir; we sell the
meat the hands use on the place" On
further inquiry we found that this man
owed nothing and was in most pros
porous condition. So 1t will be with
all who do likewise.
The following from the Savannah
news is so pertinent that we copy it:
Does farming pay? Does anything
but farming pay? Is it not the source
of all Individual wealth; the fOunda.
ton of our national prosperity? 1t is
true farmers do not as a general thing
get large salaries not many of them
are nlilliOnaires; wealth does not come
in upon them like water into a leaky
boat. They generally givean equiva-
lent for what they get, and learn the
real value OF dollar by the amount
of labor they give in acquiring it,
Sometimes the tide of events turns in
their favor. Like men in other occu-
patiOns, we hear most about the rich
and successful. Real success and true
manhood are not to be measured by
the amount of wealth one acquires.
We like rich men best who are rich in
good works; whose wealth is over
Swallowed by wealth of heart.-But
very often those who roll in wealth are
not kind and true: the best spOkes in
their wheels of fortune are spokes of
greed and selfishness. Every. person
who produces more than he can con-
sumo, who is self-sustaining, honest
and industrious, is successful in the
best sense of the term. 1t is far better
to leave treasure of kind thoughts,
righteous actions, and hallowed men,
Dry than to leave u million dollars il
they were acquired by taking mean
advantage of the generous and unsus-
pecting. who disdain to exchange
honor for wealth. Men that amass
fabulous fortunes rapidly by cheat
ing better men than themselves are not
good men to set before our young
farmers as examples. 1t is better for
all when q million of men rain a
dollar each, by productive industry on
the farm, at the loom or the anvil,
than that one reckless, fortunate adj
venturer should become a millionaire.
The greatest good comes to the great
est number, when great numbers are
moderately successful. We are so
anxious to do great things, that the
plain duties of every day life are apt
to be neglected. A virtuous life, a
happy family and a comfortable home,
are honors and success enough. True,
lasting and real success Is enjoyed
where "a class of men like farmers do
well in the aggregate, and during
their whole lives. The great majority
of farmers by living lives of industry
and economy, are safe and solvent,
and never need bankrupt law TO
protect them. When periods Of COM
mercial disaster sweep over the land,
and merchantile establishments and
business men go down like reeds be-
fore the blast, farmers stand like
apple trees in their orchards, shaking
down fruit during all the storms, and
gaining strength of fibre, while bat
Ting with the breeze.