Year: 1874

departments when he says: "In the morn
ing SOW thy seed, and in the evening with
hold not thine hand for thou knowest not
which shall prosper, this or that, or whether
they shall both alike be good"


have nothing to say Of modern changes
or improvements in the modes of agriculture
what advantages may come from labor
saving or labOr-making machinery. Those
will all go for what they are worth sooner
or later, but there is a substratum principle
of fidelity and patience in the farmers call
ing, and confding trust in the forces of ma
ture or in the divine attributes Of goodness
and power which give seed-tiue and harvest
according to the counsel OF his own will
a fidelity, patience, and trust which are not
so fully called forth in any other calling.
In most Of the enterprises in which he en-
cages there is to him at any rate uncer-
tainty Of results. His harvest may be
abundant, partial success, or an utter fail
ure. He may watch the forces Of nature
he may modify his labOrs by premOnitory
appearances; in some respects he may use
those forces at will. lie may apply his la
bors to them, but he cannot control them.
Neither heat nor cold will come at his bid
ding, nor can he save from blighting mildew,
the sweeping tornado, or the advancing can
ker worm. He must SOW and plant his full
variety of seeds with a comforting assurance
that out of some of that variety he may get
his bread, but never certain which shall
prosper, this or that, or whether they shall
both alike, be good.


The call and command for faithful indus
try are imperative. He is sure Of failure
or starvation without that labor, but
having done his duty in obedience to that
command, he may then with reasonable COM
posure trust his bread as well as his enter
prises in the hands Of Him who holds the
winds and waters at his disposal. 1t would
seem to CRAFTY our feelings sometimes if
this we're otherwise,-if We could work with
safe foreknowedge of results if we could
cast off all dependence and forget the Su-
preme Author Of all good, and assume the
reins of control in the forces of nature, but
not only are we incompetent for such task,
but even patient success while gratifying to
our ambition would make sure of ultimate
failure, disastrous and lamentabls. There is
something in our natures so suited to the
condition Of dependence on the great Father
Of Mercies that we can be neither successful
nor happy without it. "Haste makes
waste" and it is not too much to say that
the most lamentable failures in agricultural
life are to be traced to the spirit of discon-
tent with the slow aud often uncertain gains
Of the farleg's tolls. New specialities of
the most doubtful nature are resorted to
with the vain hope Of a speedy fortune and
relief from the drudgery of the farmers lics,
The young man mortgages the cid farm that
industrious, toiling parents have saved for
him, that he may invest in some new enter
prise and rise above the condition of honest
toll. Perhaps some opening for trade offers
"A patent churn or a bee hive and as one
after another Of his air castles tumble down
he complains more and more of the times,
the corruption of the government, and the
waste of labor in farming


The spirit Of discomfort with the small aud
slow gains of farming through the older
states seems to be now depopulating the
oountry,-that is the rural districts--and
gathering them around factory villages and
railroad stations. Young men like to farm
if they can hire the work and drive fast
horses, but it is now an alarming fact that
SO many American boys arc leaving the farm
for more lucrative or genteel employment.
Then comes the impoverishing evil SO few
are willing to work that the price Of work
goes up far above its true value to the en-
ployer. Then again the high priced labor
ers who were once contented with $40 per
month, come to receive so or SO per day
are full of strikes and rebellion. l can
hardly suppose that these evils will be cor.
rected till dissipation and extravaganza and
idleness bring us as nation to universal
bankruptcy.


We may go to the scanty farms of th'
Swiss people among their mountain cliffs
All hands, male and female, are making the
most Of the small resources at hand. They
are comfortable, contented and happy. *
might we be with half our resources woll i'm


proved. 1t is true we may not get day wa


ges for all that we do we must do many
things as matter Of duty to the present
and coming generation, and might say al


a scrupulous regard to Him who SO provided


for the employment Of our hands and tn,
supply Of our wants. A scrupulous saving
Of the fragments in all departments Of do
nestle consumption does very much to set


tie the destiny of family estates. Young, as
piring men may call it fogyism To plant
: hoe, and harvest the small products. Thel
see no fast horses or fragrant cigars in it
They may forget as they often do that thi
: tOiling industry has given them home, AM
as they know nothing of its cost are readl
TO forfeit its comforts for the wild dreams o
/ wealth, ease, and indulgence, but shor
5 career of that indulgence may bring them b
themselves and perhaps to return to for
saken home.


But l return to the matter in hand III
deity to duty, patient waiting for results O
, toll, and cOndding in the forces OF nature
believing that He who has promised seet