The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-04-22
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On the Farmer

On the Farmer
Col. Henry Balch, having acquired
his military title from his successful
shaving of notes, and having taken
his place at the crest of society in
consequence of the few thousands of
dollars held tight within his grasp.
halted at the house of Limuel Jucklin
and inquired of the old man if he de-
sired to sell a red steer that was
walking about small Enclosure as If
he owned the place.
Get down." called out Jucklin,
come in and we'll talk it over"
The colonel dismounted from his
old nag, came forward and seated him.
self on a hide-bottomed chair in the
hallway that ran between the two Sec
tons of the old log house. Limuel re-
suEed his seat in an Andrew Jackson
rocker made of hickory saplings.
well, how are things out your way?"
he asked of his visitor.
The colonel, loosening a red wooden
scarf from about his Adam s-appled
throat, remarked that everything was
at standstill, as the farmers must
wait on the humor of nature before
they could do anything. Il was just
thinking as l came along" said he,
that the farmers is the hardest life
OF all. I've heard a good deal of talk
ever since l can remember about the
freedom of the country but I haven't
found it. They tell me that my life
has been success, but don't know"
Il think do know the chicken
fighter replied.
The colonel, expecting compli.
ment, smiled upon him and said,
"Yes?"
Eyes, I think I do know. It has
been about as near failure as any
mans life could be-"
why, Jucklin, what do you mean %
II mean that when a man at your
time of life regrets havin' lived his
life, he is a failure. That's what
mean. You are lamentin' on behalf
of the farmer, but tou don't represent
him. He lives cloye to nature, but
your struggle has been to get away
from it. You are fence-corner spec
ulator"
Everybody grants you the privilege
of saying what you please, so &C
ahead"
Much obliged. Now, let us look al
him for moment The farmer ranges
nearly over all the landscape of life
In him all of the emotions of human
nature are embodied. His world is
his neighborhood, and every communi
ty contains every shade of the human
mind, undeveloped but there in the
rough, you might say. Children an6
old people love the country"
YES, but about that red steer"
All right. Well get to him pretty
soon: The man who has worked on a
farm all his life has just as many
pleasures to look back upon as the
city merchant. The farmer NAV il
his time have bought the gold brick
but maybe the merchant has beer
taken in by bigger swindle. Ant
along toward the end they both have
somethin' to think about And tina
is about all there is to life-somethin
to think about. At very early az,
we begin to live in the past Tn,
farmer has his past closer about hin
than other men have. They hav,
seen the same seasons pass over tn,
same endeared fields"
THAT is very true" the colonel ad
mltted. Nov, what will you take TO
that steer? I'm in something of
hurry"
All right. I don't know of a fine
steer anywhere than that one. Blu
just wait moment. Let's go at tn,
farmer a little closer. In a small wa,
the successful farmer is a statesman
Experience is his guide, and we ar,
told that all wisdom dates back to eX
perience. 1t is true that he does no
handle as much money as the banker
nor does he handle as much bread a.
the baker, but the baker can eat onl,
a certain amount; and the money tina
the banker handles-money that can
relieve real want of nature-ain'
dom his soul any particular good
The doctrine of contentment is an OLE
one, but a better one was neve,
preached. And the farmer ought II
be the very model of contentment. HI
would be if he stopped to think. Mel
that set the world afire die in the
flames. Greatnes at least acknowl
edges its weakness. In this there is :
valuable lesson. 1t should teach us t,
be contented. We all ought to ask our
selves this vital question: What il
success? 1t amt noise, for silenc,
must follow, and silence can las
longer than sound. There never wa
storm as long as the calm. The,
that find happiness in buster will fint
misery in quietude"
Your lecture is very good" said tn,
colonel, but really l should like t,
get down to that steer"
We'll get down to him pretty soon
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