280 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



fifty-t^ight years does not give the right to instruct, it surely does give 

 the right to warn. Conscientious desire to performance of duty has 

 been my inspiration and if a thought given shall inspire one to faith- 

 ful effort it will not be in vain. There is a spirit of criticism among 

 us that neutralizes, if it does not destroy, our most earnest efforts. 

 Let us then strive to fulfill our destiny here. A wise providence 

 has given us a goodly heritage. For its use or abuse we will be 

 severally held responsible. 



THE DIGNITY OF FARM LABOR. 



BY MRS. VBLMA WEST, Bear Lake, Pa. 



READ AT COLUMBUS INSTITUTE, WARREN CO., Jan. 31, 1901. 



Perhaps these few' thoughts should properly have been headed, 

 ''How can those engaged in farm labor be led to better appreciate 

 its dignity and beauty?" 



It seems that too many maintain a discouraged and apologetic at- 

 titude before the world, instead of standing upright and being loyal 

 to the most ancient and honorable calling, by respecting their voca- 

 tion, making it honored by others. In any of the A'arious occupa- 

 tions in which men are engaged it is difficult to make a success un- 

 less the worker is in harmony with the work, indeed we ma.y safely 

 say that it is absolutely impossible to attain to the highest degree 

 of excellence, without a love for the work and a pride in it, a feeling 

 of joy and thankfulness that he is permitted to do this in which his 

 soul delights. 



This feeling is essential to the highest degree of success that our 

 human faculties are capable of reaching. In most callings, we find 

 the majority of the workers pleased with their position in life, and 

 not averse to advertising their business wherever they may be. 

 When you find an assemblage of those in different lines accidentally 

 thrown together and in the course of their conversation they compare 

 notes, you will always find the mechanic, the merchant, the banker, 

 the electrician, the teacher, the lawyer, all eager to proclaim the ad- 

 vantages of his respective callings over all others; you will find 

 only one, who, as the talk rolls on, seems to shrink until he can 

 scarcely be found when the fatal moment arrives that he is ques- 

 tioned, and he is just able to gasp that he is "only a farmer." 



\Ye often hear farmers speak moi'e slightly of tlu'ir occupation 

 than we ever hear those in other classes speak of it. This is not 



