The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-07-24
MR.. WHITTIER ON FARMING.
ALIFe OF COMFORT AND HAPPINESS.
Other Interesting Farm Topics-How to
Tell n Ripe Melon-Cows ut Calving
Time-Feoding Hay-Farm and
Garden NOtes-Recipes.

The bulletin No. 2, containing the Mas
sachusetts crop report, gives letter from
John G. Whittier, heretofore unpublished,
in response to the congratulations of the
Essex county agricultural society rendered
the poet at the occasion of their December
meeting, when the subject for considera-
ton was: Whittier, the Poet of Our
New-England Homes" and his influence
upon the homes of our farmers.
The receipt of the same was acknowl-
edged by the poet by the following letter:
OAK KNOLL, DANvERs, II mo-, 80, 1888.
David w. Low, Esq, Secretary Essex County
Agricultural Society.
DEAR FRIEND-Thy letter, conveying the
congratulations and kind wishes OF the Essex
county agricultural society at its meeting on
the 2Sth inst, have received with no common
satisfaction. No birthday has ever given me
more pleasure. My ancestors since 1910 have
been farmers in Essex county. was early in
itated into the mysteries OF farming as 1t was
practiced seventy years ago, and worked faith
fully on the old Haverhill homestead, until, ut
the age of thirty years, | was impelled to leave
it. greatly 10 my regret. Ever since, II have
envied anybody, it has been the hale, strong
farmer, who could till bis own acres, and if he
needed help could afford to hire ii, because he
able to lead the work himself, have lived
10 see great and favorable change IN the farm
ing population of Essex county. The curse OF
intemperance is almost unknown among them;
the rum-seller has no mortgage on their lands.
As a rule they are intelligent, well Informed,
and healthlly interested in public affairs; self
respectful and respected; independent land
holders, fully entitled, if any class is to the
name OF gentlemen. IL may be said they are
not millionaires, and that their annual gains
are small. But on the other hand, the farmer
rests secure, while other occupations and pro-
LESSONS are in constant fear of disaster: his
dealing directly and honestly with the Al
mighty is safer than speculation; his life is no
game of chance, and his investments in the
earth are better than in stock companies and
syndicates. As to profits, if our farmers could
care less for the comforts of themselves and
their families, il they could consent to live as
their ancestors once lived, and rs the pioneers
of new countries now live, they could, with
their present facilities, no doubt, double their
incomes. But what pitiful gain this would
be, at the expense of the decencies and refine
ments which make life worth living. No bet
ter proof of real gains can be found than the
creation of pleasant homes for the comfort of
age and the happiness of youth. When the
great English critic, Matthew Arnold, was in
this country, on returning from q visit in Essex
county, he remarked that, while the land
looked to him rough and unproductive, the
landlords houses seemed neat and often ele-
CANT with air of prosperity about them.
But where" he asked, do the tenants, the
working people, live" He seemed surprised
lords, and the workers the owners.
Let me return my sincere thanks to the Essex
agricultural society for the kind message con-
veyed in thy letter, and, with the best wishes
for its continued prosperity and usefulness, L
am truly thy friend JOHN q. WHITTIER