The Portland daily press., 1898-10-29
WEBSTER ON FARMING.
The Letter He Wrote to John Taylor in
March. 1862.

When Daniel Webster was under tkae
cloud of the peoples displeasure in Masea.
chusetts, and was hoping that the con-
duct which had carmel him that dis
pleasure might conduce to his nomination
by the Wings for the Presidency. he paused
in his work at Washington, and under
date of March IS, 1852, wrote letter
(Which has often been quoted) to his farm
er at franklin, N. FL. MIR. Webster would
himself have been good farmer If he
had devoted his attention to that calling,
and his counseling with John Taylor was
not matter of fun; he found the farmer,
too, good company when the skies were
the letter.
John Taylor--I am glad to hear from
you again, and to learn that you are all
well and that your teams and tools are
ready for spring work, whenever the
weather will allow you to begin. I some
times read books on farming, and re-
member that a very sensible old author
advises farmers to "plow naked and to
SOW naked. " By. this he means that there
is no use in beginning spring work till
the weather is warm, that farmer may
throw aside his winter clothes and roll
up his sleeves.
Yet he says he ought to begin as early
in the year as possible. He wrote some
very pretty verses on this subject, which,
as far as / remember, run thus:-
While yet the spring is young, while
earth unbinds
The frozen bosom to the western winds.
While mountain SHOWS dissolve against
the sun,
And streams yet new from precipices run,
Fen in this early dawning Of the year,
Produce the plow and yoke the sturdy
steer,
And LIS Gad him till he smoke beneath his
And the bright share is buried in the soil.
John Taylor, when you read these lines.
do you not SEQ the, snow melting ssnd the
little streams beginning to run down the
southern slopes of your Punch Brook pas
ture, and the new grass starting and
growing in the trickling water, all green,
bright and beautifulP And do you not
see your Durham oxen smoking from heat
and perspiration Gas they draw along your
great breaking-up ssplow, cutting and
turning over the tough sward in your
The name of this sensible author is
Virgil; and he gives farmers much other
advice, some of which you have been fol-
Rowing all this winter without even
knowing that he had given it,
But when cold wether, heavy SHOWS and
rain
g,he laboring farmer in his house restrain,
Let him forecast his work, with timely
care,
Which else is huddled when the skies are
fair: sA
Then LET him mark the sheep and whet
ths shining sharo,
Or hollow trees for boats or number
DER
His sacks or measure his increasing
store,
Or sharpen stakes and mend each brake
So to be really in good time to work;
Visit his crowded barns at early morn,
Look to his granary and shell his corn;
Give q good breakfast to his numerous
kline,
Els shivering poultry and his fattening
swine.
And Mr.. Virgil says soma other things
which you understand up at Franklin as
we'll as he ever did,
In chilling winter, SWANS ENJOY thelr |
store,
Forget their hardships and recruit for
more;
The farmer to full feasts invites his !
friends,
And what he gos with pain, with pleasure
spends;
Draws chairs around the fire and tells
once more
Stories which often have been told before; |
Spreads clean table with things good to
eat,
And adds some moistening to his fruit
and meat;
They raise his hospitality, and feel
They shall slsep better after such meal.
John Taylor. by the time you have got
through this. you will have read enough.
The sum of all is, be ready LOT your
springs work as soon as the weather be-
comes warm enough, and then put your
hand to the plow and look not. back.
DANIEL WEBSTER.