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FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 205 



we feed upon the vegetables at the second remove, and u}ioii the animals at 

 the third remove, from the water of the showers and the storms. 



Greek mythology has a picture of tlie Goddess of lieaiity as born from 

 the foam of the sea. This is an imperfect statement of the scientific 

 fact that all natural beauty, all the verdure of meadows, all the foliagcd 

 grandeur of trees, all the glory of blossoms and flowers, rise out of the sea, 

 are transformations of the moisture which the sea gives to the air. Jol) asked, 

 "Hath the rain a father?" A brilliant American has answered, '^ The ram 

 is the daughter of the sun and the sea." And it is almost the life and sub- 

 stance of all that clothes the earth, and feeds its countless multitudes. This 

 tasteless rain is a mystery. It was tempted by the sun out of the salt reser- 

 voirs of the ocean, and transmitted into that we eat and drink, — not carried to 

 the fields by human agency, but borne in the sponges of the clouds and poured 

 directly upon the farmer's field. It was drawn fresh by the sunbeams out of 

 saltness, and transmitted through trunks and stalks into the apple, the pear, 

 the peach, the plum, the wheat, the corn, the rye, the sugar-cane, the grape, 

 the lemon and orange, and all else that man eats. Most truly the sun and the 

 sea are his servants; and all who eat of the fruits of the earth should grate- 

 fully remember the goodness of the Infinite Providence that cares for man. 

 "For he causeth Ilis sun to rise on the evil and on the good; and sendeth 

 rain on the just and the unjust." 



The influence of the farmer in society must be measured, as in other men, 

 by the standard of a pure morality. This imposes upon him the recognition 

 of the fact, that the wealth of the State consists not in immense treasures, 

 solid walls of brick and granite, magnificent palaces, nor in her soldiery and 

 armor; but that her best and highest wealth, and most certain safety, is in 

 having her citizens wise, honorable, and well educated. "Population increases 

 in the ratio of morality; credit exists in the ratio of morality," Assuming 

 that the farmer has sought after and attained this high level, even his dollar 

 will represent more of value than some other man's dollar, for money is repre- 

 sentative, and follows the nature and fortunes of the owner. It is known to 

 him how many strokes of labor it represents; his bones ache witli the days' 

 work that earned it. He knows how much rain, frost, and sunshine it repre- 

 sents. It was not earned by some lucky investment, nor in exchange, nor by 

 gaming on the market, but by hard and honest labor. His dollar is heavy ; 

 the gambler's is light and nimble, and skips from his pocket on to games of 

 chance. The farmer's dollar is worth more than the gambler's or the dishon- 

 est man's, as truly as a dollar in a university is worth more than a dollar in a 

 prison, — in a temperate, schooled, law-abiding community, than in some haunt 

 of crime, where rum, cards, pistols, and knives are in constant use. AVorth 

 more, as truly as a dollar in the hand of a big-hearted, generous lover of his 

 race is worth more than one in the hand of a miser. 



The morality, and schools, and churches of a locality, township, or State 

 will draw to it capital and population. These attract; vice re])els and keeps 

 both away. Morality affords safety to person, personal rights, and property, 

 and these will go and stay where they will be safe. Temperance, industry, and 

 thrift are potent indexes of the character of the people of any locality. Schools 

 and churclies are important factors in building up a new country, and he who 

 contributes most to their support is most benefited in tiie end. And our farm- 

 ers have always held them in high esteem and veneration. Our humble district 

 schools have ever been very dear to our farmers, and for a long time were the 



