396 MASSACHUSETTS AGEICULTURE. 



alluring prospects of great and siidden wealth ; the view of 

 masses of men working for him, living iipon his capital ; the 

 waves of the ocean bearing to him the products of other climes, 

 and by the profits of their exchanges, building his granaries 

 and warehouses and palaces ; placing in his power the means of 

 liberality and abounding Christian charity. What wonder if 

 the young imagination is borne away by the dazzling panorama 

 of this imposing highway. But he has the good sense to look 

 long and patiently upon it, till he sees that all along there are 

 myriads of wrecks, broken fortunes, disappointed hopes ; pen- 

 ury all the more severe from the recent enjoyment of affluence ; 

 temptations too powerful to resist, the wreck of fortune and the 

 wreck of character. He sees that perhaps not ton, certainly 

 not a score, in every hundred who choose this highway of life, 

 are successful. At least four out of five fail upon it. Still, if 

 the enthusiasm is in his heart ; if enterprising, self-reliant, pru- 

 dent, and prepared for all events, he feels that he must proceed 

 upon it, or be ever unhappy and repining, let him trust to 

 Providence and his own good heart. 



But our young friend has decided otherwise. After all, his 

 eye rests alone on the plain, unpretending, but safe and honor- 

 able highway of agriculture. By this decision 4ie knows that 

 he will probably forego the opportunities of high distinction and 

 fame. He will not despise the idea of achieving a reputation 

 which shall long survive the period of his life ; because he can 

 see clearly the effect of such hope upon a generous soul, in 

 leading to noble and immortal actions. But the value of earth- 

 ly reputation to him, after he has passed from earth, he does 

 not understand, and he is content not to learn it. 



But now presents itself another most interesting question. 

 He is not yet attached and bound to any particular location. 

 " The world is all before him where to choose." And where 

 upon the whole will be placed his hearth-stone ? 



In deciding this question he will not look beyond the boun- 

 daries of his own country. Every variety of climate, soil and 

 production, is found in his native land. With all its faults, he 

 knows that its government is the best on the face of the earth, 

 not only the best but the most permanent. He perceives that 

 the foundations of its permanency are not all to be found in 

 the virtue of the people ; if so, in these degenerate days, there 



