FARM ECHOES. 49 



CHAPTER VI. 

 LEARNING TO PLOW. 



A novice in farm matters, my first impulse was to learn 

 how to plow and do other such farm work, so as to make 

 myself a thorough master of every department, and 

 thereby the more effectually supervise the whole. 



My farm was then only being put in good working order, 

 so that I had none of the more important matters to look 

 after, which soon engrossed my personal attention, other- 

 wise I should never have touched a plow. Such labor 

 can be better, and more economically performed by those 

 accustomed to it. Moderate work with his hands oc- 

 casionally, and any amount of toil with his brains, bring- 

 ing his business knowledge so to bear upon his new en- 

 gagements as to keep them well and constantly in hand, 

 alone give promise of success to him who exchanges city 

 life for one on a farm of large proportions, and requiring 

 executive ability in whoever controls it. 



No man in his senses would like to take passage in a 

 vessel, the captain of which deemed it incumbent upon 

 him to labor at the ropes and sails in common with his 

 "before the mast" men. The safety of the craft, and of 

 all on board of her, and the success of the voyage, depend 

 upon the executive officer rightly discharging his duty. 

 Because he is not seen running to and fro with the deck 

 hands, it must not be inferred that he is a mere "figure 

 head," having nothing to do, He has quite enough of 

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