Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-04-18

In choosing for me the subject,
"Contentment on the Farm" | think
your committee must have had very
exalted opinion of my abilities or a
very limited idea of the ''muchness" of
the subject.
In appearing before you this evening
/ am reminded of the blacksmith Is
little boy, who, going into his fathers
shop one day was seen placing piece
OF IRON in the furnace and commenced
blowing the bellows with all his force.
What are you going to make my little
man?" asked the father. "a horse
shoe, papa" 'tYou cannot make a
horseshoe of that piece" said the father
sit is too large" Nothing daunted The
little fellow he was seen again placing
she iron among the glowing Goals.
@'Wh hat do you think of making this
time?" asked the father "a horseshoe
nail papa. You cannot make that
either, my SON" Then the third time
heating the iron he tossed it INTO tank
of water eXclaiming, tthere papa, if l
cannot make a horseshoe, or a horse
shoe-nail, / am SURE l can make a
'fzzle."
In riding over the beautiful country
on bright spring morning, when the
air is redolent with the odor of flowers
and joyous with the songs of birds, one
involuntarily eXclaims; "where can be
found so much to fill the heart with
happiness or the body with joyous
bounding health, as in the country, and
who so blest, so contented as the
farmer and his family"
But do we always find the farmer the
happy contented man he ought to be?
If not, why not2 We have the words
of one Of our most exalted statesmen
"that agriculture is the most healthful,
the most useful and the most noble
employment of man" Itis indeed the
foundation of all other industries, il
supplies food for all mankind and with
out it the world could not exist q
moment; vet we find farmers who are
discontentad, farmers who are complete
failures as such. Right in our own
midst we have them, not only those
who have started in life with brave
heart and two strong arms as capital
but those who have had wealth tC
commence with (more dollars perhaps
than many of us here ever hope tC
own,) yet failed. They spent severa
years of valuable time, and mucl
money in a fruitless endeavor t
become masters of the soil only to SEE
their means melt away like dewy
pearls before the morning sun. They
become discouraged, discontenteC
forming the conclusion, they are mistak
en- in their calling, abandoned thei
farms seeking employment in our elite
or looking up some government office
We all know this to be no overdraw1
picture. There are not many in thi
room but what have seen just sucl
farmers.
Where can we find remedy for thi
evil? l answer with one wore
Education This thing might no
have been had they acquired the righ
training and proper education Will,
young. Agriculture while being
pleasant, healthful labor when properl,
followed, tends to individualize an,
energize man; but lie who only plod
along using his muscles instead of hi
brain is the one who is surest of discon
tent, he lives life of GrudgerY he ha
no love for his profession and wi
never meet with marked success.
A great painter was once asked wit
what he mixed his paints. ''Wit
Brains" was the reply. Thus with tn
farmer, he must use brains withou
STINT, fertilize every acre with brains
If more brains were used on our farm
there would be a greater yield {
contentment. Farmers invest heavil
In this fertilizer, it will pay the creates
interest of any investment you eve
made. Let no discontent thrive o
your land, you have need of all you
acres 20 grow more profitable crop.
The instilling of these principle