The Brinkley argus., 1898-10-20
A Plea for The Toiling Farmer.

= common consent that he is called
 the bone and sinew of our country.
 The merchant may think his busi-
 ness indispensable, but the farm
 CT existed and grew prosperous
 before the mercantile business
 was considered essential; the
 manufacturer may enter strong
 plea for equal honors with the
 farmer, but the time has been
 when the farmer made for himself
 whatever he considered needful
 the doctor too may claim, with
 good reason, that his services are
 absolutely needed to keep the body
 in repair, but long ages ago moth-
 CT nature taught our forefathers
 and mothers the use of home
 made remedies that were consid-
 cred the panacea for all the ail-
 ments of humanity; the lawyer
 also may think that if his profess
 ion were annihilated pandemon-
 nun would reign, and only the
 strongest would survive, but when
 we look down the corridors Of
 time we see an age when lawyers
 were not yet born, and when each
 father was the counselor for hls
 household and all matters of in
 difference were settled by arbitra-
 tion; the press may we'll boast of
 a mighty influence and justly claim a seat of honor among the pro-
 fessions needful to mans best in
 terests, but man lived, ate the fruits of his labors, died Tn bliss-
 full ignorance of the affairs of re-
 mote humanity and went to his
 reward, while nations rose pro- gressed and fell while the press was yet an "unknown quantity But what shall we say of the stur dv tilIer of the soil? Since the world was young all human life has rested under his vine and fig tree, and partaken of the fruits of his toil. It is largely true now as then. His profession antedafes all others, and stands unique as the only one without the product of whose toil the mass of human ity, otherwise employed, would speedily come to dire distress and death. Yet how little he is ap- preciated and how insignificant is he often considered by many who think themselves engaged in a more honorable calling As a model of courage, perseyerance and cheerfulness none con ap- proach the horny handed sons, of toil. He goes forth in the spring lime sewing the seed and sing ing. often bravely battling at great odds with the "gunnt wolf, and when the harvest is ended, even though he may not reap bounti- fully nor know from whence will come his morrows food, yet his l merry wnlstle may be heard float
 ing out on the chill winters l breeze, bespeaking !, spirit of scarce met with elsewhere. Then when seed time comes again l le renews his efforts and still la DOTS hopefully on in the face of obstacles that loom up IS high and 1 Is difficult of passage as the pro- ye-bial snow crowned Alps. In Iced his motto seems to be, 'sthere | shall be no Alps.n Yes he is sad, and rightfnlly of the s.hard tines," put do not chide him. Rather speak to him the more c,ieerfu'ly md better still lend him q Drotherly helping hand, for re member he, as Atlas, holds the world cn his shoulders. You his should bear equally with him the losses incident to un fove rahln seasons, short crops, and low prices because you direct ly enjoy the benefits of his labor and the fruits of his toil. Help him then as he helps you. You too lis merchant, when you are tempted 10 tage advantage of his and are minded 10 thrust your hand to the bottom of his pockets by making big profits on the goods you sell him, renem-
 Der that lic is your best friend and continual supporter. Deal gently
 with your fgrincr friend, for his