654 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



other countries, as China, Egypt, or British India, and see how these 

 poor people suffer in their wretchedness; and does this not prove 

 that education is of the most importance. While we have made 

 great advancement by the aid of our education, why cao we not 

 make greater advancement by still improving these advantages 

 which we have before us. 



Thus, we can plainly notice, both by observation and experience, 

 that the education of our future farmers is a subject which is being 

 discussed and is being carried out to a great extent, and that the 

 knowledge which we now acquire will help us to fight the battles of 

 life which are before us. 



A TALK ABOUT FARMERS AND THEIR WIVES. 



By J. C. RICHARDS, Bald Mount, Pa. 



This life is full of earnest realities, and well and necessary it is 

 that we engage in some of its occupations, to have some work to 

 do in reference to the fulfillment of life's great object. It is only 

 by work that we rightly come in contact with the stern facts of life. 



Nature is full of activity; the sun shines, the winds blow, the 

 lightnings flash, the thunders roll. These evidences of an all pervad- 

 ing activity in nature are but so many types of the energy and ear- 

 nestness which should impel man onward to his destruction. 



Work is necessary to our health if it be work that suits our na- 

 tures, and of that character wdiich will be of almost constant happi- 

 ness in performing. It greatly depends on ourselves whether out- 

 work is a curse or a blessing if we are working for any selfish 

 motive or only to see how much money we can accumulate; or if we 

 are in a mistaken calling our work may become a drudgery and we 

 slaves. Knowing this, we should very carefully choose the kind 

 of work in which we are to engage, and should it be farming, we 

 should with all our power make 1 the most of it and each year im- 

 prove on the past as we are constantly learning to better use the 

 forces within us and the powers all about us. In no other occupa- 

 tion is there so much chance for change of work as in farming, 

 although it may be more economical for a manufacturer to have 

 each man day after day to do the same kind of work; as for example, 

 to have twenty men make a saddle or a pair of shoes, yet if one man 

 makes the whole he would be a whole man and not the twentieth 

 part of a man. So a farmer with his varied tasks is a broad-mkded 

 man and not a specialist. 



The farmer, to be successful, should put a great deal of cheerful 

 whole-hearted devotion in his work. Half-heartedness does not 

 count for much anywhere. There is no better place than on the farm 

 to develop in a man patience, faith, humility and honest endeavor. 

 If willing to cultivate these qualities, success is sure; it may not 

 be from a money standpoint. Accumulating great worldly posses- 



