98 OXFORD SOCIETY. 



Did such a man fully realize the trouhles and dangers that 

 beset a throne, he would reject the ofTcr of one with indigna- 

 tion, and prefer, like the Father of his Country, to go to his 

 farm, and spend the years allotted him in the full enjoyment of 

 retirement. 



The Farmer, Nature's Nobility. Much has been said and 

 written respecting a farmer's occupation, as though it were 

 really a very low calling, and required special effort to relieve 

 it from that imputation. But, gentlfemen, it is a low calling to 

 him who will make it so. The man who is determined to be a 

 merchant, may go into one of our large cities, traverse the 

 streets and ditches, and pick up the bits of rags and paper and 

 sell them, and be a merchant, but his calling, though honesty 

 will be a very low one. So may a farmer be a mean man, an 

 ignorant man, a selfish man, without any signs of improvement 

 about his farm, his buildings, his family, or himself He makes 

 his calling a low one. Did such a man live under a despotic 

 form of government his situation might be excusable. A farmer 

 may commence the world with nothing but his hands as a patri- 

 mony, yet he can, if he will, show evidence of improvement. 

 Did George ^Tasaingtoa icel his calling to be a low one when 

 superintending his broad acres around Mt. Vernon ? Do you 

 hear such language from the judges, statesmen, presidents, kings, 

 and emperors, who have in different ages watched with delight 

 the growing crops and the trees planted by their care. 



No, gentlemen, farming is honorable, just as you make it so. 

 If you seek for improved modes of cultivation, if your eye is 

 quick to detect the advantages of a new implement or machine, 

 if you strive to make home comfortable, convenient, tasteful, 

 but not extravagant, read a good agricultural paper, and other 

 works on the same, and kindred subjects, learn to be a thinking 

 as well as a working man, you dre rendering your calling an 

 honorable one. If you are blessed with a good wife, though I 

 hardly need say this, for the wives of Oxford county are all 

 good, you can set a better table than your lawyer, minister, 

 merchant or doctor. Give your children a substantial English 

 education, so that, whatever may be their calling they will not 

 suffer for the want of it. Lay aside the narrow prejudices of 

 narrow minds, and look at your neighbor and your fellow man 



