STATE HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 31 



reasoned with. Anything that will bring a change of circumstances 

 appears to the dissatisfied spirit in the light of an beckoning angel. 



Thus it is that many a farmer boy, who has grown up in the 

 pure and healthful air of the country becomes dissatisfied with his 

 old home and longs for a change. It may be that he has gone to 

 the city and, attracted by its brilliance and splendor, he longs to 

 become one of the festive crowd. Oh, my friend beware how you 

 submit to this delusion; you have gone to the theater and were 

 attracted by the glare of lights, the music and the brilliant scenery, 

 but have you been behind the scenes? Do you know that all this 

 outward splendor and gayety is only a hollow mockery? Ah! how 

 many a poor fellovv has left home and friends, attracted by this 

 false light, and afterwards atoned for it by a life of misery and 

 regret. You are attracted by the wealth and festive gayeties of the 

 city, but have you ever thought that it is all dependent for life upon 

 those who "with sun-trod faces and horn-gloved hands" till the soil 

 and make the earth to bring forth fruits, and must turn for 

 support to the children of toil, the lords of creation, the son of the 

 soil ? 



I would not disparage the city. It is all right in its place and 

 and as necessary to the support of the country as the country is to 

 it. But let each remain in his own sphere. Statistics show that 

 sixty per cent, of the country lads who have gone to the city have 

 failed, and it affords us but small comfort to reflect that ninety-five 

 per cent, of those who have come from the citv to the country have 

 done likewise. You have grown up surrounded by the beauties and 

 simplicities of nature, and she has done for you all that a fond 

 mother can do for her child. And if you will abide with her and do 

 your duty as you should, she promises you a good living — more than 

 many get in the city — and health of mind and body, which is worth 

 more than all the riches of Vanderbilt and Gould. And if happi- 

 ness and content are to be had on earth surely you will find them 

 here. 



When Adam first came to the Garden of Eden he came as a 

 horticulturist to tend the garden of the Lord, and had he been con- 

 tent to stay and perform this duty he might have saved himself and 

 us a vast amount of trouble; but he did not have principle enough 

 to resist the voice of fiattery, and it would seem that all following 

 generations have inherited his weakness. 



" Ah! yes," says Dr. Taltnage in a recent sermon, " the fields were 

 honored. The old shepherds with plaid and crook have gone, but 

 instead we have all those who toil in the fields. All vine-dressers, 

 all orchardists, all husbandmen. Not only on the Christmas night 

 but all up and down the worlds history God has been honoring the 

 fields. Nearly all the Messiahs of reform, and literature, and elo- 

 quence, and law, and benevolence have come from the fields. And 



