66 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



secured in New Enijland for the mass of men, as well as in 

 any other portion of the world, I fully believe. 



We can but look forward to the time when all the land of 

 New England shall be subdued, except that required for 

 forest growth — when the marshes shall be drained and every 

 variety of soil shall have the culture best fitted to develop its 

 capabilities — when the hill-farms, now deserted, shall have new 

 fires re-lighted upon hearthstones around which happy families 

 shall gather — when so much of rural happiness shall be found 

 that they shall wonder that such places of beauty were ever 

 neglected — when industry and intelligence shall be so com- 

 mon under wise laws that every home shall have the comforts 

 of life, and none shall be found where idleness and dissipation 

 reign because a father hoarded wealth for the destruction of 

 his children. We look forward to the time, which we trust 

 and believe is coming, though it tarry long, when those who 

 are equal before the law shall approach equality in all the 

 conditions of a happy life. If ever that time comes, it will 

 be because the blessings of a thorough education shall be 

 not only oflered to all, as they now are, but shall be improved 

 by all. It will be because all forms of vice and indulgence 

 that tend to idleness and crime, shall be driven from society, 

 and virtue and industry installed in their places. It will be 

 because the citizens are wise enough to cooperate in business 

 instead of working against each other, because they learn how 

 taste and culture give the best returns for all labor expended, 

 because every blessing which God has given is properly used 

 and not abused. If we can never hope to reach this, we can 

 to-day see some approach to it in Massachusetts, and in many 

 other parts of our country. No other million of people on 

 the face of the globe can be found, that have better conditions 

 for all rational enjoyment than the people of Massachusetts 

 to-day enjoy. There is no place where the same number of 

 people represent the same number of happy homes. Is there 

 any other place where the welfare of the young, of the poor 

 and uufortimate, is more bountifully provided for? Is there 

 another place where more is given for the promotion of re- 

 ligion and education beyond its own borders? Is there a 

 single State in our Union, to which men who would found a 

 college or build a church in the West, or send a missionary 



