40'8 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



one hundred dollars' worth, and riding free twenty-five cents worth ; puffing 

 concerts and lectures fifty dollars' worth and receiving a fifteen cent compli- 

 mentary ticket. Another becomes a merchant, and like the rest of the gas 

 Nvorks, is a fixture in the store. Another turns school- master, to get rich by 

 the blessing of God, and flogging other people's children. Now, what are 

 the real reasons that these boys have so little relish for the safe, solid, honor- 

 able business of their fathers? And when they launch out for themselves, 

 whether to earn bread and meat and clothing and shelter, or having these in 

 abundance, to make the best use of their lives to develop to the uttermost the 

 talents given them. To secure the nol^le consciousness of winning a name 

 and place among their fellows, why do they so eagerly rush away from the 

 farm to engage in some profession, business, or trade in the town? And what 

 is the remedy for this widespread and deplorable evil? 



One common source of discontent among the young people is the farmer's 

 too common grumbling, disparagement of his calling. In presence of his 

 boys, many a farmer decries it with an apostle's zeal and a martyr's devotion. 

 He has no appreciation of the advantages of farm life (nor for that matter, 

 in too many cases, for any life) ; it is uneventful and prosy. Everything is 

 unpropitious. What he does not have he wants; what he does possess is 

 unsatisfactory and full of discounts; rains are too wet and untimely; seasons 

 too backward or forward. He envies the stockholder, for he (the farmer) 

 can't get rich watering his stock once. He envies the storekeepers and trades- 

 men whom his fancy puts in easy chairs, gives plenty of money, almost noth- 

 ing to do, and all the luxuries of life to enjoy. He threatens to sell his farm 

 and go into the grocery business, keep a boarding house, solicit insurance, or 

 peddle books. He considers all compliments to his thrift, usefulness, and 

 independence as pure taffy. Ignorant of the risks, annoyances, anxieties and 

 disappointments or downright failures of other kinds of business, he allows 

 the expression of his envy and discontent to awaken in the breasts of his boys 

 an unconquerable aversion to his occupation. 



" It was down in Indianner that he sparked and married Hanner, 



Which is probably the reason he's a story to relate ; 

 For the world was all agin him, and there wa'nt no good lucii; in him, 



And his toes grew sore akickin' 'gin the bony shins of fate. 



"On the farm somehow or other storms keep chasing one another, 

 Till they trample down his harvest and they mildew all his hay; 

 Still he's time enough to gather all his crops in decent weatl'.er. 

 If he didn't run for office which (the office) runs away, 

 Leavin' Hanner in a manner 

 To hold aloft the family banner." 



It would be folly to expect farmers or any other people to be perfectly con- 

 tented in their lot; to be like the unassuming cabbage growing up to maturity 

 amid the showers and sunshine of spring and summer, unmindful of past or 

 future. No contented man, stolidly sitting on the rung of life's ladder where 

 the accident of birth has placed him, looking upward and downward with 

 equal indifference, thinking he has all he wants but willing to accept any good 

 chance winds may bring him, provided its acceptance requires no effort, ever 

 did or ever will make his mark in the world ; but there is avervbad discontent 

 as well as a very good one. Discontent, growing from a desire for greater 

 attainment or usefulness, or the worthy achievement of honorable name and 

 position, is undoubtedly of divine origin: but discontent springing up in a sel- 

 fish soul, failing to conceive the value of its own place, disgusted with its lot, 

 envious of the success, position, or possessions of others, is an unmixed evil. 



