Year: 1860

1t is a great mistake into which many
American youth fall, that manual labor
is not honorable To be merchant, a
lawyer, doctor, an engineer, a military
or naval officer, or shipmaster, is, in
their esteem, much more honorable than
it is to be mechanic or farmer. 1t can
not be denied that all these other occupa-
tions require exertion. The doctor is Of
ten quite as weary when his days work is
done, as the farmer or blacksmith can be,
but he is not half SO sure of quiet nights
sleep as they are; and we Ill know to
what hardships engineers are exposed, as
well as persons who follow the seas.


We often see vigorous young men
seeking places as clerks in stores They
all hope, and generally expect, some ia
voraJle tide in the affairs of life, which
"will load them on to fortune.' Other
men havo accumulated vast sums in buy
ing and selling goods, why not /? is the
language they use. They rarely consider
that but very small number of those who
embark, ever complete their voyage
Where fifty succeed, perhaps hundred
fail


But an industrious, thrifty farmer, sell
dom lailS to secure for himself and family
the comforts of life. The skillful and
practical mechanic, too, is generally sure
of remuneration for his labor, and with
common prudence he can provide a COM
petence for the future. That princely
fortune can be heapcd up by the plough.
the jack plane, or the sledge, we do not
say nor is it pretended that men are as
likely to acquire fame on farm, as at the
bar,


But the history of the world will show.
that the men who have done most for the
welfare of the race, and whose memories
are cherished with the most respect, came
from the hardworking ranks. Princely
fortunes are more easily wasted than won,
and while the moderate possessions Of the
farmer or mechanic supply all the COM
forts of life, they are attended with few
temptations to luxury, or extravaganza,
and still fewer risks from the foil y or fraud
of others.


There can be no doubt that agricultural
employments are the most natural to man
and there is no country on the globe in
which the facilities for pursuing these
employments are SO great as in the Unit
ed States, requiring but very small out
lay of money to obtain respectable farm
to begin with. A good knowledge of
the methods Of husbandry can be easily
acquired. The implements of labor are
as good and cheap as can be found the
world over. The title of land is we'll So
cured; tho large monopolies, such as some
of the countries of the old world are bur
thened with. can never exist here, What
greater encouragement could be asked by
one who only desires to live comfortably
and independently? Tho farmer, that
honest, goodly farmer. is one of the most
independent men in the wide world. lie
has the promise that seed time and har-
vest shall not fail lie may always
plough in hope, and reap with joy. To
I'LL the earth, then, is really an honorable
calling,


But il does not require that man
should be enslaved to tho plough, nor
that he should make companions of his
sheep and OK. The shrewdest and most
intelligent men, who sit on our juries and
help make our laws, come from their
farms and return to them as soon as their
duties terminate. The good sense sobrie-
ty, contentment, industry, and love of
order which characterize our American
farmers, are among the most important
safeguards ofpublic peace and prosperity.