No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 169 



"Then one and all, let us be contented with our lot, 

 This beautiful May morning, the sun's been shining hot. 

 Let us all fill our hearts with the glory of the day, 

 And banish every care and doubt and sorrow far away. 

 Whate'er our occupation, with Providence for guide, 

 In such fine circumstances let us be satisfied. 

 The world is full of roses, the roses full of dew, 

 The dew is full of heavenly love that drips for me and you." 



The CHAIR: It was the Governor's desire to have been here 

 this evening, in which case he would have responded to the address 

 of welcome. Unfortunately he has not found it convenient to be 

 here, but we are fortunate in having with us one of his cabinet, 

 the Secretary of Agriculture, Hon. N. B. Critchfield, and in the ab- 

 sence of the Governor, I will call upon him lo make the response. 



RESPONSE TO ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 



Br Hox. N. B. Critchfield, Secretary of Agriculture. 



Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: The good Book says, "Let 

 every one be subject to the powers that be," and the powers that be, 

 it seems have decided that I shall take the platform. 



And now, Mr. Burgess Pennypacker, and citizens of West Chester, 

 and Chester county, I cannot say that it is with pleasure that I rise 

 to respond to the very excellent and forcible address of welcome to 

 which I have just had the pleasure of listening, because it is some- 

 what embarrassing to any one to be called on in this summary way. 

 I am glad, however, to be here, and I am glad to have heard a part 

 of the address of welcome. I was unfortunate enough to be called 

 away about the time the address was begun to answer a call at the 

 telephone, so that I only heard a part, and that was the latter part 

 of the address, hence it is going to be very hard to respond to it 

 intelligently under the circumstances. 



We are very glad to accept the assurance of a welcome to this 

 town and to this county. You know that people always estimate 

 the welcome that they receive according to the estimate they put 

 upon the people from whom that welcome comes, and if we are to 

 appreciate our welcome iu the same wa} T , our appreciation of it 

 must be very high indeed, for coming to you, Mr. Burgess, as we do 

 from all over this great Commonwealth, we feel much like members 

 of the same family, coming to visit a parent: or if not a parent, at 

 least an older brother or older sister, for we are not forgetful that 

 Chester county was the first county organized in the Commonwealth 

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