Year: 1870

The impatience with which men turn
away from the unexciting vocation oftillnp
the SOIL in their youth, is equaled only by
the humility and devoutness with which
they some times return to it in their old aoe,
and after they have drank the bitterness Of
disappointment Tilling the earth is con
sldered a prosy business, in these driving
times fmoney-making, and it certainly is
Il slow way OF making fortune. For this
reason, young men turn their backs on the
humble farm that give them their susten-
ance, and rush eagerly into the seething
vortex of business in great cities, or into
what are called the espectable professions,
to seek for the wealth, honor and renown
HAT the modest earth dose not yield But


he vortex Of business that eddies IN the
great marts Of traffic, does not yield wealth


% all who plunge into it Here and there
one clutches a prize, as he bears himself
stoutly above the pillows; but the greater
number go round ana round all their lives,
without gathering any share of the riches
that flow so thick about them. The wisest
OF these cease from the contest before their
strength is all gone, and withdraw to some
less exciting and more solaclnr vocation
There IS no employment that affords such
soiace for disappointmen as tiling the
earth, and there is nothing like disappoint-
ments In business or politics, to open the
eyes to the serene joys Of this patriarchal
vocation. To return to the earth, after fierce
conflict with the temptations Of life, is like
returning to lay ones aching head upon the
breast OF his mother The earth broad
and gentle bosom never repels her children.
1t may not offer wealth, but it does offer
peace, repose, contentment, and honest
plenty to all who will seek them with rea-
sOnable prudence. We cannot defraud
the earth, and it never defrauds us. We
must deal honestly and justly with it, if we
would reap It's fruits and enjoy It's blessings
1t is full Of comforts and beauties. It's
wooded hills and velvet valleys; It's gener-
Gus streams, lis cool and solemn forests;
It's fields Of waving corn, and bending
wheat; its blushing orchards its purple
vineyards, and lis liimitablo wealth of fra
grant fowers-all these it yields to appease
the taste, to satisfy the eye, and refresh
the soul; and 1t is narrow soul that refuses
to take delight in these objects. 1t is
noble passion that seeks its indulgence in
assisting the soil to developc It's riches and
It's beauties. Cincinnatus ut his plow,
W ashington on his plantation, and Sir
William Temple in his flower gardens are
examples Of the great and good turning
from public life to the beautiful pursuits of
agriculture and horticulture Contact
with the soil, and breathing the fresh earth
smell it eXhales seems to inpart vigor and
strength and one explanation of the main
tanned power and spirit of the English no.
blity through commissions and revolutions
that have overthrown all othernoble classes
IN Europe is their habit of dwelling in the
country, hunting in the forests, and cnlti-
vating the soil. Indeed the earth is the
source Of a perennial lIie; what is attached
to it and connected with it, lives; what is
severed from it withers and dies In deal
ing with it, men learn to be faithful, hope
tuI, trustful, just and true.--St. Louis Home
JouuaL