The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-09-20
LAWRENCE G.. JOHNSON.
pachceta, Miss.

! like that. I like all such gentle criti-
cisms. Man is never too old to learn,
and if | had my life to live over again
[ would try to learn more Of natural
history and the mysteries of nature. |
would like to be an .Agassiz or Audubon
or Cuvier or Linnacus, or even Il Huber,
the blind man who taught us all we
know about bees. But Lord Bacon said,
He that hath wife and children hath
given hostages to fortune, for they are
impedimCntS to great enterprises a
ina who marricS early and has numCr-
Gus and lovely wife and offspring don't,
have much time to investigate outside
of home. and so it was never intended
that Il family man should devote much
time to bugs and birds ana fishes. That
is alright II he is Il professor in Il college
and makes his living by it.. but even then
he cannot play horse or hooger-bcar with
his children to any alarming extent. And
so Il kind providence has wisely ordain-
cd that only 4 few should be set apart
for invention, discovery and scientific re
search, while the great majority should
be engaged in multiplying and replcn-
ishing. | had fondly hoped that in the
retirement Of my old age | would find
abundant time to read and ponder and
philosophers upon these things, but
there is no retirement at my house. The
grandchildren are more numerous than
the children and quite rs lively and nlis-
chicvous and it takes half my time to
watch them. Only yesterday two little
girls borrowed some scissors from their
grandma and While I was gone to the
postoffice they got my stamped envc-
lopeS from my table and cut them into
imaginary COWS and dogs and horses. But
they love me dcyotediy ana follow me
around and pull the flowers and are so
happy that it makes me happy. too, and
| wouldn't swap their little company for
all the science and learning in the land.
My faith is that if we live right in
this world and lay the foundations Of
knowledge we will have plenty or time
to advance in wisdom in the life to
come. Heaven is not sIagnant with
beautitudes. The worship OF God will
be mingled with study and maybe with
work and the mysteries Of creation will
be opened to us by degrees and fill us
with wonder and delight. But [ didn't
intend to write about this. My friend.
Mr.. Johnson. or Professor Johnson, /
reckon. is surely mistaken about the
ichneumon fly having eaten out all the
vital parts of the worm and come IT,
the surface and spur the little white
'oNocIlN i JUL - vi tIltSc Nb1 IL
clad in their white cocoon robes. and they
were of various sizes, from an inch to
three inches long. and were pretty lively
cOrDSeS. The smaller ones were still
hungry and growing. / found none III
a dying condition. The sharp horn Of
the tail looks like it was a stinccr, and
seems to be Il weapon of defense. But
why should we not destroy them? Do
they not prey upon the vines? And
what do we want with the ichneumon
flies. or any other flies? Are not all
such things as flies and feas aud bed
Bugs and mosquitoes and boil worms and
caterpillars and pack saddles the pests
of nature. and is not the world con
cerned in trying to destroy still smaller
things much as the germs Of cholera
and yellow fever?
"For science tells us that a flea
Has smaller f1eas that on him prey.
And those nave smaller still to bite 'em
And so-proceed-ad infnitum.'
What would have become Of my po-
totoes if | had not destroyed the bugs?
No. ] do not believe tina Providence
made all His creatures TO cnjoy life.
but some were created like thorns and
thistlcs. to increase our toll and disturb
our tranquility. They are part of the
curse. or else Satan, who walks up and
down the earth like an inspecting gen
eraI. had some hand in the business.
Professor Johnson says that God is
the father of all His creatures. and in
tends them all to live and enjoy life
That doctrine won't even do fer 4 veg
etarian. for both fruits AMI vegetables