Year: 1862

Poor and Rich Farmers.


As farmer have lived among farmers.
without change of residence. thirty-six years;
and during that period of time have had
opportunity to observe the development of
several generations Of farmers One gene
ration / can trace from infancy to mature
age; another. which first came under my
notice at manhood. are now old men and
others, according to their several ages. have
had time more or less to exhibit what they
are able to accomplish. The result of my
observation, in one direction, has been. that
the individuals composing these several
generations constantly range themselves
under one Of four classes. Glass No. is
composed of those who are always poor;
Glass No. includes those who barely make
a living all their lives long; Glass No. 8
numbers those who acquire comfortable
and a constantly increasing competence
and Glass No. is composed Of those who
acquire wealth. Numerically. each class
diuinishcs as we advance in the classiica-
tion I have said that the individuals of
each generation range themselves under one
or other of these heads-and I believe that
[ am correct in saying so, Notwithstanding
the constant averment of Glasses Nos. l
and that their want of success is to be at
tributed to the circumstances surrounding
them. This averment believe is errone-
Gus. The man himself, and what he is
made of, determines to what class he will
belong. It is true, surroundings are some
times favorable and sometimes unfavorable.
but the energetic and skillful will dodge the
unfavorable obstacles and avail themselves
with great dexterity of all that will assist
their progress. Demosthenes had an i'm
pediment in his speech. yet he became the
greatest Of orators; with pebbles in his
mouth, and where the surf Of the sea shore
was raging. he exercised himself in dcclaim-
ing.


The farmer Of Class No. 2 will feed his
stock on the ground, at waste Of perhaps
$40 per annunl. The farmer of Glass No.
3 will provide racks and boxes by using
which he not only saves the $40, but his
stock being $40 better for the care they
have received. he is clear gamer Of $40
| in his annual income. Skill and persever-
ing industry combined will constantly at
touch turn into gold that from which his
neighbor of Glass No. 2 extracts no profit.
His fuel will be provided at so or $15 less
cost per year than the farmer of Glass No.
Il; his acres will yield more grain, moro
grass, his sheep more wool, his cows more
butter and cheese, and prices he sells for
will be higher. His healthful comforts Of
garden and orchard will be more abundant
His fences, gates, and bars being good, bis
stock will be well trained and orderly-no
pig will ever be seen in his door yard or
gardcn-for pigs show their training as we'll
as children-and thus he will be exempt
from what farmer No will call accidental
loss. In early life,he will resolutely set his
face against all expenditure above his means
Not until his income warrants will he spend
bis income for other than necessary purpo-
ses. Indeed, of recreation he needs less
than other men. because his "work is as
good as play" and the success of his bust
ness is to him continual source of delight
His joys are home joys-journeys and rail
road trips take him away from what he loves.
Farmer of Class No. 8 will in all probabili-
ty live twenty years longer than farmer Of
Class No. Q. and if we measure his life by
happiness he enjoys. his years will be doub-
led. Of him, when he becomes man. it
will be remarked that he is one of the very
people who love work. To him employ
ment has become habitual, and though age
demands and receives what rest it needs,
yet he will "wear out rather than rust out"
and, like "a used key. will be always
bright"


I have seen abundant evidence of the po-
sition, that under circumstances where one
farmer would be poor, or barely live, an
other farmer, by industry, energy, perse-
verance. and skill, would obtain compe-
tence but then the circumstances surround
ing him would rapidly change.