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proofs are literally overwlielming. Who, that marked the adaptation 

 of tlie ripe grain, luscious fruit, and lovely flowers to the wants of man's 

 body, and the love of beauty in his soul, could believe that this provis- 

 ion was made by blind chance, or happy accident ? Who, that remem- 

 bered how easily our Maker could have sustained human life, by food,, 

 tasteless, or nauseous even; and made the earth a safe dwelling place, 

 though clad in one unvarying robe of black or drab, could have re- 

 frained from confessing, that the pleasures of the table, and the delights 

 of the eye, are indisputable proofs of the goodness of God ? I was 

 grateful to the Fair. I thank its managers for these familiar, yet ever 

 fresh and convincing evidences, that the best name for the Creator is 

 Love ! Consciously, or unconsciously, they were missionaries of cheer- 

 ing views of the character of God. 



In the second place, as I have intimated before, I was moved to 

 gratitude, by the thought, that God has so ordered the affairs of this 

 world, that in all civilized nations, a vast majority of the people are 

 devoted to rural pursuits. Every man who loves his race, must recog- 

 nize the hand of a wise and good Providence, in the evident necessity 

 for millions of farmers. There is no nobler, no more inviting calling 

 than that of the tiller of the soil. Healthful and manly, it is also 

 favorable to independence, freedom and religion. 



Even here in this new country, in spite of those violent disorders to 

 which settlera are liable, one can hardly avoid noticing the contrast be- 

 tween the bodily vigor of men of out-door occupations, and those of 

 sedentary habits. With muscles strengthened by habitual toil, one class 

 can endure exposure, under which the other would soon sink to an 

 untimely grave. The farmer does not set the laws of health at defi- 

 ance, by grudging the short half hour allotted to a meal, nor does he 

 convert night into day, with the illusion of brilliant gaslight and mid- 

 night dinners. He is not chained to some counter or desk, to pass the 

 livelong day in measuring ribbon and computing interest. Rising with 

 the birds, he goes forth to his manly labors, inhaling the pure air of 

 heaven, and working in the eye of the great Sun himself. His nights 

 bring no restlessness and exhaustion — but refreshing repose, and balmy 

 sleep. Pack the human race into cities, providing them with food by 

 manna from on high, and the average duration of life would become 

 alarmingly short. The health of our towns depends in no slight de- 



