The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-09-24
AN ESSAY.

Delivered By the Worthy Assistant Lecturer,
Sister Lizzie a. Marshburm, Before
the Catharine Lake Lodge, No. II
241, Of OnsZoeO County,
Sept. 7, 1889.
Mr.. PRESIDENT, BRETHREN AND
S1sTERs:-I reckon I must say some
thing to-day, but it will be dry and
uninteresting, as usual; nevertheless,
/ am full to the brim of the Alliance,
but cannot express myself. I can go.
to a certain extent: I just tell you l
am so thankful I belong to this grand
and noble union, l cannot express my
delight. When I hear this noble
word "Alliance," l wonder if it takes
the same effect on everybody alike. l
am sure if it did all would be more
punctual in attending the meetings.
Why is it that the farmer and labor
ing class generally, have got no self
will or resolution of their own? 1t
is a great mystery to me; there are
some exceptions, but as a general rule
they have been ave ready to link
their destinies with any political aspi-
rant who can get up and deliver a
howery address of misrepresentation
with a few anecdotes in to please their
fancy; but let a brawny-handed farmer
with good hard practical sense get up
and talk business without the anec-
dotes, and he is put down as a. dull
and stupid old Ounce. How is it that
so many stay away? Because we
have no fowery orator. There r
some members who have never been
here since we changed Jul meeting
place. Will not some n ask those
brethren and sisters if they would not
like to come to our Alliance meeting
one time more? I tell you, brethren
and sisters, we ought to have self-will
and be apersevering, go ahead people;
not wait for one another. Suppose we
all were to pull back and wait, do you
thinks we would eve accomplish
anything2 What do people JOIN the
Alliance for if they do not intend to
come? 1 tell you, my friends, it is
like excuses about going to church:
they say, 81 would go if [ had a new
dress or new pants; my hat is torn;
my face is too poor and wrinkley; l
am too ugly; l haven't shaved; l don't
feel like in fact 1 can't get ready
in time" And just such excuses are
continually being made. Is it to
show our new clothing that we are
here? Sure we are not here for such pur-
pose as that; if so, | am really sorry
for all in the great Hereafter. Of
course 1 am glad to see as many out
to-day; we must work the harder and
learn the more. There is something
for each one of US to do; so don't be
idle, but be up and doing; "work
while it is yet day, for the night
cometh when no man can work" We
have a great many young men in our
country who are farmers and laboring
mems sons. What do they know Of
this life, and what do they think OFF
Why, they just think of getting a
wife. Well, what kind of a man is
hep what is his profession 2 does he
belong to this great body the ALI
ance? Yes, he belongs to the ALI
anee; he is a very industrious and in
telligent young man, Woodworking,
brawny hands, sunburnt and care
worn; he is a farmer who tills the
great soil, and his cash is there, his
purse is heavy, and if he is out Of
money, he has something to sell to
get his dollar. What kind of a wife
does he want and need? Why, of
course he wants n who knows how
to work to advantage; one who will
help him and not be a burden and
who has a loving disposition, one who
will give him a cheering smile and
a word of comfort.
Brethren and sisters, do you find
such as these every day? I tell you
they are hard to find. We must try
to cultivate these good traits of char
acter, and beware of hard feelings to-
ward our fellow-men. Let US come
together as a unit and say "united we
stand, divided we fall" So let us be
up and doing and try to leave some
works of remembrance behind. We
may not become famous as statesmen
or writers, but if we will we may