Year: 1874

rent neglect, out was aosent PaS' VI
the winter and spring, and since thea
my health, As we'll as that Of my wife,
has been SO delicate, it was out Of my
power to do anything but what could
not be dispensed with, and now I shall
have but little of interest to communi-
cate.


Rye, barley and early oats are cut or
will be ready to cut next week. My
son has commenced to cut wheat to-day.
and will continue until done; the corn
and potatoes need rain, and must fall
short of what was the general expecta-
tion short time since. Hay is good
and the weather dry for saving it, and
many are doing so. No grasshoppers
nearer than Ottawa La Sueur as yet,
but no one can tell where they will stop.
Each farmer is fearing they will call on
them ; they are not desirable callers or
visitors, although their visits, like
angels visits, few and far between, still
they leave lasting impression on the
minds of those who make their acquaint-
ances. In the fall of sc they came
here in October and deposited their
eggs, and they destroyed crops Of 1857,
and left in August or September Of 81
and have not been here since. Still
those further north have suffered.


I regret to see there is some differ
ence of opinions in regard to political
discussions in the Oranges. This is
not strange at all; most persons have
some ideas of their own unless they are
very stupid, and those need some one to
instruct them, and where can this be
done the best, in the Oranges or at de-
batting schools? I see it stated by some
in the latter. That has been done for
the last half century. That idea has
been late in reaching discovery, and by
the time another one penetrates the dis
coverer's brain, he will be where he
cannot tell it to the people in this
world, and therefore the world will be
obliged to do with the one idea.


Now, I cannot see where the evil
comes in discussing the policy or impoli-
cy Of any measure in discussing poll
tics in the Oranges as we'll as out Of
them. But religion is different thing
altogether, and no analogy between
them.


Now the old conservative Democratic
party has issued their platform lately,
and conservative Republicans have done
the same, both Anti-Monopoly, and it
takes hair splitters to tell which is the
other; and the State Oranges will call
third Convention and lay down their
platform, and call on all to come to this
no political, no religious test. All we
shall ask Of you is to vote your old
ticket but call it Anti. Monopoly, that is
all sufficient.


But if anyone has ever voted any,
thing but strait ticket watch him close
ly, and particularly if he has brains,
don't allow him to be leader or hold
an Office he might say something to hurt
the feelings Of people that have been
stealing and robbing you, and keeping
you poor. You should be careful of
railroad wheat rings, those lords Of the
loom, and all such gentry, that have all
but sold out Of your bodies that they
may only do your labor a little longer to
FIJI their over filed pockets.


Now this may seem harsh to some,
and foolish to others, but have lived
to see and to hear oil kinds Of sophistry
for fifty years, and have vivid reoollec-
ton Of having heard papers and stump
orators often say, " the higher the tariff,
the cheaper the goods" OF in other words,
the more you pay for an article, the
cheaper you can sell it. Nov humbug-
gerry would have tried old father Jobs
patience, let alone my poor unstable
temper: I have already made this