The Delaware farmer., 1883-11-16
GRANGE.
sELF-EsTEEm TO BE CULTIVATED
BY FARMERs.
Read at Pomona Grange
BY MRS. c. GUHDY BROWN.

1t is customary when we wish to realize the size
or brilliancy Of the sun to contrast it with some.
thing infinitely smaller, as one of the stars,
thereby enhancing It's magnitude. i is in the ca
pacity Of the smallest star that appear to-day.
We are to-day gathered as a body of farmers
to discuss the farm, the farmer and his inter.
ests, and we will add, his position. Does besus
tain the dignity of his calling, and command
the respect in the community that is his right!
Every one acknowledges that the farmer is a
necessity to mankind, yet it would be hard to
find class that is more sneared at or carica-
tured. He is considered in the light of a neces.
sary evil. A class of people to be made much
of and cOmpmented while one tries to buy nice
fresh butter at a low price. but hardly party
to recognize in public or have ringing at ones
front door. Capable OF commanding the pro-
ducts of the field, yet diSpised by the people
who are dependent in a great measure upon his
energy and skill This is not as it should be.
It is his own fault if he does not occupy the po
sition be so richly deserves. 1t is the duty of
the farmer to urge his sons and daughters TO fit
themselves for position that will command re-
spect. But until they can be convinced that to
sit upright on a chair or black their boots is not
putting on airs, and should be practiced on Non
days at home, well as on state occasions,
there is very little hope of reform.
To avoid all appearance Of evil" does not
seem to be part of their creed. hut to AVOID all
appearance of ceremony. We hear and read
murh OF the beauties of rural life." The sweet
communion with nature which is so delightful
. 1, =, Il. nt
such repOse for dweilers among the fragrant
fields. Granting that this is as it should be, we
blush to thiuk how tar short of this the reality
is. We fear the man who wakes some of these
CHEEKY summer mornings-whose praises sounl
so well il verse-to find the light peeping boldly
into his window. hardly appreciates the twitter
OF the birds, the fragrance of bud and blossom
or the changing clouds, as he hurres out to SET
forty or fifty berry-pick-rs to work, and gives
orders for long days work. If he scans the
sky at all it will be only to calculate the chances
Of rain before the hay IS in.
Nor does the housewife as she rushes away to
get breakfast for the family, have much time to
lit her heart in thanksgiving for the beauties of
the season. We venture to say that the me-
chanlc on his way to work in our crowded cities,
or the matrou doing her marketing before
breakfast drink in more of the beauty of the
morning.
Will we allow the impression longer to pre-
vail that farm life is something 10 be stunned
stunned like a plague? Let a person in onr
cities or in the nearest town, that only boasts of
post-ofiice, corner grocery and blacksmith
shop, announce his intention of moving to the
country, and his friends will flock around him 10
offer him sympathy and speculate as to how
long before he viii appear as antequated as Rip
Van Wmkle. It'll very convenient to prate that
"clothes don't make the man." At all events
they indicate the character OF the man. For
what the coat and boots are, that will the man
be. His mental powers will be influenced by
his surroundings.
Agriculture is the first occupation that We have
any knowledge OF mans engaging ia. A wise
Father creaied the gardeR and all therein, and
saw that all was in good order and very bcauti-
tul. We then created man-more perfect than
all the rest, for he created him IN his own image
-and placed him in the midst, thus proving the (
right OF the ter of the soil to the highest po |
siton. Il he has a right to sueh position it is /
his duty to fit himself to sustain it with dignity
Mental and physical beauty must be cultivated .
as much as in our power, or we are a blot rather .
than an adornmeEt TO our surroundings, and we
are not sustaining the dignity OF our calling.
One need not be alarmed by the word dignity.
II does not mean any OyerdOne fOrmality or
clustering assertion OF importance. Let us be.
ware OF the latter or we may fall into an evil
Urnn fha fret Dot1,s
ward, easy selfrespect, that arises from the
knowledge that we are fitted for any position
we are liable to fl, and not trom the fact that
our bank account exceeds that of our neighbor
When we are fitted to sustain oar positions with
dignity, then we shall, as a matter of course,
command the respect of the community. Any
suggestions for a change are usually met with
the argument thar it takes too much money to
live in any such way, it will do for rich people.
This is not a question OF MEANS but rather a
little exercise OF the brain and heart-two mem-
bers which are sometimes sadly neglected in our
haste for wealth. 1t is not for the affiuent that
we plead. They are capable of taking care OF
tbemselves-but for those of comparatively
small means, who expect to work with their
own hands, and await with patience the growth
of moderate fortunes, the class that forms the
solid basis for prosperity Of any community.
It is the farmer-the patron-who can do
much toward forwarding this happy time The
Patrons family can do very little in this line il
he is not foremost in action 1t is a mistaken
idea that the farmer shall plow and plant and
his wife shall do the polite Tor both; or that
" mother can teach the boys-sbe understands"
Jonny and Harry viii throw their hats in the
corner and put their knives in the butter if
father does. Papa does it," has spoiled the
effect of many repremand from mother, /
showing that precept without example is use
ns. Thn ,.,lrls dronr,ad day hv day as the liife