Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1907-08-08
FA ARMING.
(By Joe II. Raw Elk parL

SoN6S, ho Aluu-
ler now poor or unlearned he
may be. That profession is farm
ing.
am not an old or experienced
farmer, but l was reared on the
farm and learned to till the soil
and get Joy out OF theground. In
my opinion, farming is thegrand
est, the most inspiring, the most
noble and independent Of all the
professions. The farmer is t h e
solvent, heindependentand hap
py man. The merchant may see
his goods 60 up in smoke; the
bank president may abscond
with a handful of stolen money,
the millionaire's money may take
wings and fly to parts unknown
and reduce him to beggary IN a
single day. The politician is a pu-
sillanimous wretch. The minister
is a walking pity. The office-hold-
er is a public pack horse. Let the
brainleess tadpole dude scorn the
farmer. l had a thousand times
rather be an independent farmer,
and know that my soul is erect
and free, than to be President OF
the United States without indie
pendence, feeling Of the popular
pulse, inquiring about the wind
of opinion, filled with fear and
trembling.
There is a quiet about the life
of a farmer and the hope of a Sc
rene old age, that no other pro-
fesssion or calling can give. The
professional man is doomed some
day to feel his power waning; he
is doomed some day to see youn.
ger and stronger men pass him
in the race oflife; he is doomed
some day to take his seat and be
Hast where once he was first. The
business mans nights are filled
with worry; his dreams are filled
with spectres and gobblins, but
the kind old farmer, like the eter
nal hills, s,when the storms OF pan
ic howl around, and the business
tides ebb and flow, he remains
practically unharmed, towering
above the fogs of turmoil, an c
quietly breaths the atmospher'
Of thrift and progress. He owes
no man anything except goo {
will. Ii any man comes to h 6
door, he is not afraid it is an OF
fcer, and always greets you witt
a hearty "come in" His nightl
are filed with sleep and rest. HI
hears the refreshing rain falling
upon the waving corn and LISTEN
to the zephyr's whisperings in tn
vine-clad trees above him, ant
|breaths the sweet perfume OF 70
ses waited in through his opel
window.
| When the winter winds begi1
to blow, his crops are egathereret
and his barns and cellars are fill
ed. He looks forward to thre
long months at home with vii
and family, three months OF res
around his own fire side, thre
months OF leisure in which to rea'
and inform himself, three month
of solid comfort. 1t is not onl.
the iualienable right right OF ey
cry man, but his Indispensable dr
ty to choose the calling or pre-
Ifession, the pursuit Of which wi
bring the most possible happ
ness. If the people were educate
to believe that it is honorable t
be useful, and disgracful to b
idle and useless, and demand
higher standard OF manhoot
there would not be so many beg
gars, thieves and robbers in Il
land, and more respectable cit
zens. The people ought to |
taught that the farmer is the fa
Y ther OF all industry, and that Il
? venerable old gentleman ougl
|, to be respected.
81 There is a host Of people in ii
! land, may Of whom are grad
e!ates Of good colleges, who shu