Year: 1879

another lacking in the mind of the


average farmer il is ambition. Am


bition to excel as a tiller of the soil,


a grower of the finest crops; ambi-


ton to breed the finest animals Of


the best breeds; ambition to have


model buildings, fences, hedges,


lawns, trees, shrubs and flowers.


When young lawyer takes his


position at the bar he takes ii with a


firm determination to eventually be-


come the peer of any man in the


profession. Blessed with fair abil-


ity, unless through discouragements


and delays he weakens and falls, he


pushes on for years, and step by step


he wins position, honor and fortune.


So with men in other professions.


An honorable ambition spurs them


on, obstacles are overcome, and at


the end they can look down from
the height they have reached, and


with pride and satisfaction view the


work of well-spent life that has


been a continual series of hard won


victories, every one of which has


brought its own reward in higher
manhood and in the noble example
it has set for others. tr..srr..


The merchant, the banker, the en-
gineer, the inventor, the business
man of all classes has before him an
ideal which he stri es to reach with
every energy of mind and body.


But is this so with young men
born on the farm and who intend to
spend their lives. there? DO they
start out i'm life for themselves with
the firm resolve to be the best farmer
in the neighborhood, the township,
the county, the state? Inspired
with his laudable ambition, do they
labor persistently with brain
and muscle to this end? Do they
read, calculate, observe, question,
study, with this single purpose
always before them? lHr b 81


The farmer who is enthusiastic in
his vocation, imparts his enthusiasm
to everything around him. His
wife does not lead the life of a
drudge, slave, but she walks side
by side with him, her heart full of
hope, her active mind suggesting
and planning for others to perform.
The children are inspired by the ex-
ample everywhere beforethem. They
take delight in their active outdoor
life, and deep interest in the sue.
cess Of everything going on around
them. They are born farmers, and
there is nothing that can allure them
from farm life. The very domestic
animals have an air of enterprise
and thrift, and every acre of the
farm seems ambitious to respond
to the efforts and hopes of the
owner.


The ambitious farmer, if persist
ent, is always successful. And
successful as farmer he my be sue
cessful as a man. He developes in
culture and breadth. He has the con-
fidence of the community in which
he lives. He is called upon to fill
the small but important neighbor-
hood Offices. He is commissioner
Of highways, school director, justice
Of the peace. He fills these offices
well. His ability is strengthen ed.
He is sent 10 legislate for the State.
He knows the wants of the people
md he works for them. A seat in
Congress is within his reach. In
fact, there need be no Office within
The gift of the people to which he
may not aspire. But such man
will never forget that he is a farmer.
Being a true man he thus ennobles
MS profession. He has no cause TO
be ashamed of it. To him there is
no higher calling. And such men
will convince, are convincing, the
world, that there is no vocation
higher or more honorable.


For the good of the country, as
veil as for his Individual good, it is
he duty Of the farmer to be ambi-
ious, to get out Of the ruts, and as
'ume all the rights and responsible
les of his position.