60 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



of that other, but similar great law — an opportunity never 

 comes hack again. But in the country this is always before 

 you. Does the seed-time come back again ever? Can you 

 ever put off until to-morrow the duty of to-day? Were I to 

 sum this all up in one word, there is but one which I know 

 comprehensive enough to embrace it all, and that is indeed a 

 word full of meaning — labor! "Thou shalt labor" is the 

 commandment which life daily repeats to us. Every man has 

 his task set before him, and the duty of patient, thoughtful 

 labor is his blessing; or, neglected, it becomes his bane. Let 

 us reason together upon this subject, and we shall find that 

 there is in all this the deepest cause for gratitude. It is an 

 answer, also, to those complaints of which I spoke — those 

 grumbling complaints, so unworthy of a true man. How often 

 do you hear it said, how often, too, do you repeat it. " Oh ! 

 my farm is poor, this New England soil is barren, the "West 

 is the only place for farmers ! " or " I am too poor to farm to 

 advantage," or, " my education was neglected. I cannot go 

 ahead and better my condition, like my neighbor so and so," — 

 or, worst of all, " I have no luck, every thing has turned 

 against me." All this is false, unspeakably false. These are 

 not the lessons of living, — grumble them hourly if you will — 

 sit sulking like a child in the corner, and let the world go by 

 you if you will, — but these are not true ; on the contrary, there 

 is no New England farmer who reflects, who really docs his 

 own thinking, but thanks God daily that his heritage is given 

 to him here in this cold clime ; on this soil which yields to 

 labor only — rewards labor only. A true man does not grumble 

 because he was not born with a golden spoon in his mouth ; he 

 knows that gold is a soft metal, and does not wear well — iron 

 is better. There is no one here to-day — who is any thing, who 

 has made himself any thing, who feels that he is a living, real 

 man — who docs not in his heart of hearts thank Heaven that 

 he was not born rich. How false and shallow is this com- 

 plaint of one's lot in life, this complaint of our toils and 

 labors. The exact truth is, that the primal curse, as wc 

 call it, ; ' in the sweat of thy face shalt thou cat bread," 

 is a blessing in disguise — perhaps the highest blessing. This 

 is the leal and earnest belief of our age ; the age of iron 

 is passed, and the age of gold is passing away ; the age of labor 



