The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-10-16
CAUSES o. FAIlUR=


the dark side of farming, condoling
with the poor wretch who is doomed to
toll from sunrise till dark for the bare
necessaries of life; with no advantages,
social or otherwise, and no money to
spend for pleasure or improvement.
In recent article I find such a one
described as obliged to endure his
hard fate as there is no escape. The
author advised him to bear up under
the great load for the sake of his dear
family dependent upon him for support.
say to expressions of such senti-
ments 'Bosh!' The chances are that
the wife or the neighborhood supports
such families. If it be true that hard
labor does not bring a measure of sue
cess, there is a great leak somewhere,
either in expenditures or in energy
misdirected. But the probability is
that the man in question is a chronic
grumbler, lettering perhaps while
others are. at work. He trades upon
credit, and shelters his machinery under
the broad, blue canopy, wherever night
or the close of the season overtakeS it.
will venture that he pastures his COWS,
his sheep and his hogs in the same
field with his horses and along with his
geese if he owns any; that the nuts are
loose on his mower and the sickle is
dull, that his fanning-mill is old and
his wheat turns to chess; that his farm
grows rougher, and that he is too
shiftless to dig ditch; that the wet
spot in his field grows larger and
deeper till the willows spring up and
flourish like the green bay tree" To
sum up the whole matter, | will ven
ture the opinion that he has the blues
and is disguised with his business; that
he is working without plans aud does
not profit by his failures.
Let me say to such man "Halt!
About Facet Take for your motto
''This one thing Do and think of it
at every job you undertake. Do every
thing just as well as you know how,
and it will be done poorly enough. If
YOU do not know how to do thing as
it should be done, ask some one who
does know. Be on the lookout for the
best way. Waste nothing. If your seed
is not pure, get some that is,
and keep it SO. Get new screens
for your fanning-mill, and your
wheat will not turn to chess.
Before you take that mower into the
field, see that it is in perfect repair. If
any part is defective, renew it at once.
Keep every thing tight. Repair, but
never patch. Do not wait till noon to
ro,ooir- ,rnn l.. do ~ thn 1ac+
the weak place bring extra strain upon
the strong. When you put away that
mower, make a note of all repairs it
will need before another year, then
provide them in season. Put it into a
house the same hour you finish using
it. If your reaper is too old to use and
you must have one, buy a new one.
Do not give your note for it but buy for
cash. Pay money for every purchase,
even if you have to hire it. You can
buy cheaper, you will buy less and will
take better care of what you do buy.
Do not do two days work in one,
and 90 fishing the next. Set up your
grain so it viii endure bad weather.
Hire only the best of help, and if you
do get poor man settle with him on
the spot. Never invest in schemes
promising sudden riches. Do not specu-
late. 1t might be well to buy dog
and feed him on travelling schemers.
Be strictly honest. If you have a
COW that is not just what COW should
be, say so when you sell her. Don't
let the best of the wheat get on
top in the bag. Find no fault with the
weather-it is both wicked and foolish.
1t is as good as if you had made it your
self Don't grumble about hard times.
or get the blues. Other men have
their dit1iculties-be man yourself
Other men succeed at farming; you
can.
Study your business. Quit using
tobacco. You have no money to waste.
Look on the bright side of things.
May be you have the dyspepsia. You
eat too much or too fast If things go
wrong there is a cause. Find it; fix it.
Pay every debt the day it is due.
Excel in something. Be authority in
some line. Do not embark in new
scheme without careful investigation.
If you have made mistake, retreat;
but in good order. If you are engaged
in branch that does not pay or is not
pleasing, do not surrender without
terms. Hold the fort for the honors
of war. Cover your retreat, and 90
out with colors flying. In other words,
do not quit branch of farming in dis
gust and at a great sacrifice. Wait
till the tide sets in favorable direction
for change.
If you have decided you can not be
a farmer, adopt the same principle.
Do not quit in the midst of failure, or
the chances are you will fail in the
next business you undertake. Go at it
with will. Study 1T. Wiring success
out of it, Then change your business
if you will. The renewed confidence
in yourself will bring success in your
new calling. and the chances are it will
awaken an interest in the old one. If
man fails utterly in one business, he
is all the more liable to fail in the next,
for 'from him that hath not shall be
taken even that he hath. b"
If not successful look to yourself for
the cause and you will usually find it..
Compare yourself with some one who
does succeed. Don't say He had a
better chance than l." That is a
towards argument. A good chance
must be improved to. amount to any
thing IL takes the same energy and