DIGNITY OF LABOR. 59 



DIGNITY OF LABOR 



From an Address before the Norfolk Agricultural Society. 



BY HENIiY F. DUKAXT. 



How intelligible are the lessons of prudence, of foresight, of 

 thouglitfnlness, which the farmer's life teaches him. No day 

 but brings its duty, no season but brings its necessary labor. 

 The farmer does not talk of luck or chance, or believe that a 

 fortunate rise in stocks will fill his barns. The seed must be 

 sown — but that is not all ; nature never gambles ; she has 

 taught him that she never deals in chances ; the seeds must be 

 good — the ground must be ploughed. He may manure his 

 land well or ill, but he knows there is no chance about it — 

 unless he manures his fields, they tell him we have no good 

 luck for you ; real estate may rise without manure, but corn 

 will not. The corn must be cultivated, too, and weeded, and 

 cared for — stocks and merchandise may increase in value 

 without your labor — the root of all evil may grow without 

 cultivation — (no other root but weeds only will) — and whether 

 that is not a very noxious and dangerous weed, is a question 

 about which there are many opinions. This is but one illustra- 

 tion; consider in how many forms these lessons are repeated 

 to you in your daily life ; consider of how many prudent vir- 

 tues they are the necessary foundation. 



Do they not teach you also that the same laws regulate your 

 social position — your moral being ? If you neglect your duties 

 to your neighbors, do you hope to have their esteem ? If your 

 life is a daily routine of dishonesty, do you expect to be in 

 good repute ? If your life is immoral and dissipated, does it 

 not wear away yourself, your name,, your mind, and your 

 moral nature ? 



Daily, almost hourly, even in the city, although repeated in 

 more doubtful and difficult language, do I see new proofs 



