FOUR GREAT LESSONS. 25 



exhausted resources; and that farmer is getting the most 

 from his farm who is wasting less and economizing more. 

 Our farms are teaching the lesson of true economy. 



We may learn from the farm, 



4th, The powerful influence of silent forces. How wonder- 

 fid the silent influence of that power which looses the earth 

 from the icy bonds of winter, causes the snow to disappear 

 from the hillsides, penetrates the earth with the grateful 

 heat, and sends the thrill of life through the countless 

 branches of the forest-trees! All silently works that myste- 

 rious power also, by which the mineral is changed to vege- 

 table, and this, in turn, by the noiseless force of nature's 

 alchemy, to animal, thus prepared to become food for man. 

 How mighty, yet how silent, that wonderful power, which, 

 during these passing days, is at work all about us, painting 

 the forests of our glorious Berkshire, and causing them to 

 glow in the light of this October sun in colors so harmoni- 

 ous and beautiful as to defy the skill of the most cunning 

 artist ! All these are constantly passing before the farmer's 

 eye, showing him how powerful is the influence of silent 

 forces. 



These four lessons, at least, the farm is constantly teach- 

 ing ; viz., that it will not take care of itself, the necessit}'- of 

 retaining tried and faithful servants, the avoidance of waste, 

 the powerful influence of silent forces. Let us see how the 

 farmer may apply these lessons to his duties as a citizen. 



He may learn, that, as the farm will not take care of itself, 

 so the State will not take care of itself: in other words, 

 it is the farmer's duty to so inform himself respecting the 

 nature and the needs of the government, that he shall be 

 able to form an intelligent judgment respecting those sub- 

 jects which are constantly interesting the body politic. He 

 should do not only this, but he should also follow up this 

 judgment with positive action, performing faitlifully and 

 fearlessly the duty which as a citizen he owes to the gov- 

 ernment under which he lives. I call especially upon the 

 young farmers of Berkshire to be politicians enough to have 

 a keen interest in public affairs, and to be as watchful for 

 the good of the State as for the culture and improvement of 

 their farms. I call upon the wives and daughters of Berk- 

 shire to allow no false ideas of economy to prevent theii 

 4 



