The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-10-12

written thirty years ago In the "uar
times Of 1862" Tbs signature N. P. il
meant for "Asthodist Preacher" and
the letter il one OF 3 ssriss written from
Alabama, whore tho author had refugssd
from Nashville. DR.. Carlisle says let
this Butler Lodge" letter bs read at
many happy 6re.ids in the country ;
and vs hope 1t will encourage young
farmers to pensvsra chssrfully, thank
fully, in their noble calling.
Mr.. EDITOR: Farmers are said to be
a complaining set, ard I partly believe
it. Itsppsarl even in their valuations.
Mest nsighbor Jones on the road or
speak TO him acrou the fence: "Good
morning, Mr. Jones. How are you and
all youra'" "Prstty we'll, thank you i;
no right to complain" Now, I would
have you understand that when Jones
says this it Is going we'll with him and
hi.. Nobody, Nor man nor beast, is all
ing; no lack Of rLiu no atrsss Of
weather. Yet, at hir very bsst estate,
the most you can get out of JoDes is-he
valves his right to complain.
have been considering Why this Is so
with farmers, having of late got to be q
small one myself No class of men
ough. to be mora thankful, more cog
infant Of God in all their ways, moro
directly and constantly sensible of their
dependence upon His blessings, than
farmers. They deal with Him. They
are the high priests of nature, waiting,
with faith and hope and labor, upon the
seasons, the earth, the dews, the sun
shine, the showers, the quickening seed,
the growing ear, The ripe corn. Truly,
to them everything cometh from above,
from the Father of mercies. They deal
with first causes others with second and
third and fourth cauaes. They drive their
trades by crediting the Laws of nature,
that they will bo true, and by trusting
God, that He will remember His cove
nant with the earth others drive their
trades, more or less, by trusting in men.
Thsga things, aside from their separate
moss from the temptation and strife Of
mixed masses, lead u. to the conclusion
that, as class, farmers ought to be
godly. And, 10 use one Of their averag.
ing expressions, stake them up one side
and down the otber," I think they are !;
they ere manly, self-rellaut, honeIt, vir-
tuous. But to tbsir complaining pro-
psnsity--wbat grumblsrs they are AL
ways getting ruined, and yet somehow or
other steadily on the increase.
Unlike tho banker, the farmer has no
monthly exhibit of bin business to make
out, awear 70 before a aotary and publish
in the papsra. His affairs are open and
confessed. Every one shat rides along
tho road can look over the fence and see
for him.slf what sort CT crop he has.
II his stock aud teams are sorry, or if
they are fat, thsy hs7s his brand and
mark on them, and you oan tell their
condition, meet them where you will.
1t wouldn't do for the sexton to lament
that he had no business; this would be
indecent. II wouldn't do for the lawyer
or the doctor; this would be the sure
way to have none, for most people dis
trust their own judgment in selecting
lawyers and doctors and rely on the judg,
ment of others, as expressed in large
practice. have heard of pert physi-
clan procuring himself to be called out of
church and other assemblies on urgent
Cases. He would ride into the village in
dash and dash out again; and 30 he
rode into practice. Many q merchant
has rubbed through tight place With 8
stiff upper lip. On the verge Of bank
ruptcy, he talked Easy and free and bore
himself like everything war moving on
swimmingly, and so preserved on his
credit With tho timid and weatherod the
storm. But the farmer can't fool any
body and be has no need to. What if
he we're to fa!tsr spd "put on" 1t
wouldn't kill the grsua or h0lp his crop a
bit Hs deals with homes: old Earth,
and sh0 can't be ticklsd, except with q
hoe or ploughshars. He may brag q
little on some out Of f-ths.way field that
no one is apt to sea but Dragging is not
the farmers style. I smiled innardly a
few Sundays ago, at Baptist meeting,
on ovarhsaring q deacon behind me
whisper to the brother who sst
next to him: "You ought to sc.
my suamp corn" There was an under
tone of e1ultation in the remark that
made tho brother to whom it WAS ad-
dressed mourn, for ho wore face OF duo
length, and had just been complaining OF
drouth and the prospect of starvation.
There is another aad better reason
than tbs one assigned slra2dy. \, the
farmer carries along variety of inter.
eS!s, hardly any dispensation of Provi.
tlence is favorable to them ali, and hu.
man like, he grievss over the farthipg
lost more than he rejoicsa over the shill-
ing gained. l uas forcibly reminded Of
this conflict Of dsslre and interest the
other day A parcel of fodder had been
pulled and waS curing fa,t under a
ucorching auu; by 10 so-morrou morning il
would be ready for stacking Good xun.
Good sunshine Just the weather for
curing fodder. Why don't I feel more
thankful! Because the potatoes seem to
say: Mighty dry-can't make anything
at thia rate" The patch of rice, wilted
and sick, cries out for rain. As for tho
peas, thsy arc at standstill. Presto,
change! While waS ruminaung rather
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