Year: 1859

il not so we'll at some periods as at others.
However remunerative the toll Of the mechan-
ic or the manufacturer, he has no assurance
that it will continue. Almost all other occu-
pations are liableto be overdone. The mar
ket becomes glutted with an over production,
and business must stand still until the articles
oftrade are consumed. But consumption very
nearly keeps pace with the products Of the
farm The world must be fed, and nothing
but bread and meat will satisfy its hunger
Multitudes are now seeking employment in
the city and can find nothing to do But the
farmer has always something on hand to do
that will give him bread and meat another
season. The Winter is not lost to his pur-
POSES. 1t is full of cheerful toil-the procur-
ing of fuel and its marketing in the neighbor-
ing city or village, the care of cattle, the pro-
curing Of muck and the composing Of man
urcs, these all pay, and these are kinds of
work never finished:


1t is the privilege Of the farmer, too, to live
with his family, and to retain his children un-
der his influence, more completely than most
others can. He is not troubled TO find en-
ployment for his sons There is enough TO
do and good pay for it in working the soil.
He can take his sons with him TO the labors
of the field, year after year, and if he be some
thing more than a farmer. and worthily fill
his place as a father and citizen, the attri-
butes of his manhood will pass over into his
sons. Wisdom will distill from his lips upon
willing hearts, until the characters Of his
children are formed, and they are fitted for
their life work.


| All the influences Of the farm are conserva-
tive and healthful in their tendencies. Right
| ly pursued, there is no occupation so favora-
BILE to physical health. There is manly ex-
erton to strengthen the muscles and knit the
frame. There is pure air. and refreshing sleep
in roomy apartments. There is the Book OF
Nature ever unroled before the young, with
all its lessons of wisdom and faith. There is
something humanizing in the daily care of the
domestic animals, and the heart must be stu.
pid indeed that does not learn pity and ten.
derness from these ministFations.


'ro more than man This generous warmth extends
And of the team and shyerng herd befricnds,
Tender soicitude the bosom fills


And pity executes what reason wills


Youth learns compassion tale from every tongue


And flies To aid the helpless and the young


IL is among the objects o! our devou
Thanksgiving that we were born in farmer
house, and grew up amid scenes like these
that we have bit Of American soil beneath
our feet that we can call our own, where ",
aud our sons get health, anu bread, and char
acter He who murmurs at a lot like thi,
must be hard to suit.


Well, here we are again with our readers
at the beginning of another years intercourse
which we iain hope will be even more plea
SAINT and profitable than that Of the year jus
closed. Buta painful thought comes over us
OF the multitude of readers of the Agricultur
isi, young and old, whom we one year ag,
addressed with our New Years greeting, pro
badly full four Thousand have been cut dowl
by the reaper, Death, and have been gather
ed into the garner of the grave. One ont 0
every twenty-five or thirty die annually. Il
the year before us then, of those who rea'
these lines, probably more than ten thousant
at least will finish their labors here, and pas
hence Those of us who least expect this ar
quite as likely to be among the number a
those who may have forebodings of death
Is our work done! Letus start this very da
on such course, that, whatever the even
may be with us, whether we remain, or emf
CRATE to the regions beyond the food, thi
NEW YEAR MAY ne 4 HAPPY ONE. Tha
such may be the case with each Of you. dea
readers, is the ardent wish Of your friend
and fellow-la -laborers-th EDIToRs. Am. Aq
riculturis.