Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-07-16
FARMERS CLUE PICNIC !
Papers Read at the Practical Farmers
Club Picnic, Plainfield,
July 4th, 1885.
"The Poetry and Reality of Farm
Life"
BY MISS MARY LIB HOGUE.

In an occupation of so vast import
ance. and one upon which the life and
happiness of all classes depend, should
have, as it has, poetic side to it; but
we are almost ready to believe the poet,
and those whose experience in farming
consists in an occasional visit to the
country find the most of it, because they
have the time to receive the impressions
of Natures blessed influence. Those
who are actually engaged in this pursuit
have the stern realities of every day life
to dispose of, which sometimes leaves
little time and less energy to enjoy Ma
lures melodious melodies, or see the
brightest side of her fair pictures.
The trouble is. farmers and farmers
families do not generally have the time,
at least do not take it, to see the poetical
side of country life. The poet sings of
idly dreaming by babbling brooks, linger-
ing amid the buttercups and daisies, or
resting beneath some favOrite tree while
the gentle breeze fans his brow, and
watts the huttering blossoms about him
in sweet scented showers. But in this
poetical feature the farmer does not often
indulge, though it might be pleasant. it
would not be profitable. And did the
farmers wife and daughters, neglecting
the usual domestic duties, while away
the hours thus, the visions of hungry
men and the attending effects, would
scatter all poetic fancies to the four
winds.
Then there are many in our cities who
have received erroneous ideas of farm
life, gathered perhaps from limited visits
to country cousins where each want was
anticipated, and where the bounties of
the farm, ready prepared by skillful
hands, was placed before them. They
see but little except the bright, or what
might be termed a poetical side of farm
life. They are enchanted, and sigh for
farm that they may spend their lives
in peace and comfort, surrounded hence
forth by abundance and to spare. Sup
pose their wishes were granted, and they
would try the farm, they must then be-
come acquainted with the realities of
rural life, which they soon find differs
essentially from the poetic side, and
doubtless many, if they had nought to
depend on but their own experience, and
their own exertions, would naturally
starve out. They see and admire the
fields of waving golden grain, but they
do not see the labor of the patient hus
bandman from day to day, as be assists
nature in bringing a bounteous crop to
the harvest time. They would find the
nice, crisp vegetables, which they so
much covet fresh from the garden, do
not grow entirely without assistance.
and after some days. or perhaps even
hours, spent with an aching back bent
beneath a burning sun cultivating them,
would decide vegetables little wilted
would taste quite we'll to those who are
accustomed to it. But their particular
hobby generally is poultry and the dairy
products. Of course they would always
have an abundance of eggs to eat and
to sell, and almost imagine fowls grow
ready roasted for the table, with but
little care, cost or trouble. They do not
realize that when eggs are the highest
price, the hens give but sparingly if at
all, of their abundant stores, aud when
the winds blow the cOldest and fercest,
and the snow drifts the deepest, it is
then more than ever they insist with
persistency worthy of better cause, in
roostihg every place but the right place.
They would always have fabulous
amounts of luscious cream, and rolls of
golden butter, but they never MIXED a
kicking cow in fly time, and don't even
know which one would give the butter>
milk. They would find many of these
little drawbacks, that sometimes scat
ters most of the poetry, and not little
of the profit out of rural occupations.
Those who choose farming for voca-
tion, though it may be one of the most
noble, honorable and independent of call
ings, will find it is not all ease and abun-
dance, but must realize there are disap
peintments and failures, and sometimes
weary toiling with little reward. The
sun does not always shine when the hay
is to be cared for, nor the clouds gather
when the earth is parched and dry, and
the past winters experience of hungry
stock and empty barns, had very little of
either poetical or profitable nature in
it. In this occupation there is exercise
for the brain, as we'll as muscle, in
guarding against repitition of mistakes,
and searching for causes of failure. Ma
ture, to be understood, must be studied,
and the road to success in measure
seems to lie through eternal vigilance.
But aside from all this there is
charm, a freshness, and fragrance about
the country that Is not found inside Of
city walls, and it is not strange that
those who leave care behind them and |
sojourn for only brief periods in the
country during the fairest portions of
the year. enjoy 1t to its fullest extent.
and willingly yield to its irresistible in>
fiuence. AS has been said they feel that
the heart and the body takes on a newer
life with every breeze that blows. Ma
ture is constantly changing, and there is
something ever new to claim the atten
tion and call forth admiration. The
seed is followed by. the growing plant,
and the blossom by the fruit.
"Never daisy that grows, but mystery
guideth the growing,
Never a river that flows. but majesty