286 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



ways worked hard, cleared up his farm for his boys, but one after 

 another they have gone and left the farm, and now the youngest 

 and last one is about to leave. The old man sits in his arm-chair, 

 with the tears running down his furrowed cheeks in torrents, as 

 he exclaims : " Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and will ye take 

 Benjamin away also ? " '' Oh, what shall I do ? " Now, young 

 men, if you knew the anguish that is in that old man's heart, some 

 one of you would stay at home with your parents, a cheer to their 

 declining years and strength. It is downright murder to leave 

 them. Somehow the boys have a notion their parents care little 

 about them. In the early settlement of Connecticut, near the 

 Naugatuck river (which is noted for its sudden rise), there lived a 

 farmer, who had occasion to send his boy over the river a long dis- 

 tance, that weuld occupy him all day. The boy took a horse, 

 as they had no bridges. After the lad had gone it began to rain, 

 and poured down all day, so that the river filled its banks. The 

 father, feeling anxious about his boy, went down to the river and 

 concealed himself, and waited the approach of the lad on the op- 

 posite side. The boy came up to the swelling tide and began to 

 cry, but thought he must attempt to cross. He urged forward his 

 faithful pony, and clung to him with a death-like grasp. When 

 in the middle of the strong current it seemed as if horse and rider 

 must be lost. The father dare not speak, for fear of frustrating 

 the lad, but the horse, being used to it, headed up the stream, and 

 finally reached the shore. The father clasped his boy in his arms, 

 and exclaimed, " you are safe, my noble boy." Now, my young 

 friends, do you think there was Zove, emotion, and gratitiide ? I 

 will not ask these parents, for none but parents will ever know the 

 emotions of that father's heart, as he watched his boy crossing 

 that turbulent stream. This is only a parallel case, to show the 

 anxiety parents have for their children, and when a son goes out 

 alone into this uncharitable world there is a sad melancholy hang- 

 ing over the minds of parents. It is but one step short of laying 

 him in tlie tomb, but there is always hope while there is life. 



I will draw but one more picture, and turn to the bright side, 

 for " farm life " has a bright side. In one of the shore-line towns 

 in this State there lives a good farmer (a family connection) that 

 has a large, nice farm. One day his son said to him : " Father, I 

 don't want to stay at home any longer. These hired men of ours 

 get their pay every week, spend their money where and how 

 they please. It is not so with me," The father waited a moment, 



