State Agricultural Society. 357 



and cheese in the dairies, fat pigs grunting in happy ignorance of ap- 

 proaehing Christmas, and hens cackling over their last contribution to 

 the farmer's wealth; and we remember when we could have bought the 

 land of that farm for a song. But we thought it adobe, and did not 

 think it wise to "get a piece of land." 



It is not too late yet in this State; perhaps not in this city. There is 

 plenty of land that can be purchased for one fifth what it will be worth, 

 ten years hence. Wherefore, we would say to young men and others, 

 do not hang about the city looking for clerkships and bookkeeper's 

 berths — treadmills that wear out and wear down the bodies and souls of 

 men — but go into the country and "get a piece of land." There will 

 be an exhibition of manhood, of honorable pride, of independence, that 

 will be creditable, and will insure eventual success. No matter if you 

 have to live in a shanty five or even ten years. You wjjl be independ- 

 ent, a freeman — under the dictation of nobody, in the direct line of 

 honest labor and honest triumph. 



