HINDRANCES AND HELPS. 255 



lie extensively in cities ; and the least fear we live 

 under, is one of mobs. In fact, there is not even a 

 habit of congregation in farmers. They meet behind 

 the church, between services, in a starched way ; 

 they drive to town-meetings in their best toggery, and 

 discuss ballotings and the weather possibly linger an 

 hour or two about the tavern or a pet grocer s ; but 

 they do not meet as townspeople meet on the walk, 

 over counters, on the railway, in the omnibus, and in 

 each other s houses. I have already taken occasion to 

 dust out their darkened parlors ; but the dust will 

 gather again. They have no Market-Fairs* which will 

 bring them together with samples of their crops, to 

 compare notes, and prices, and methods of culture. 



There is no coherence of the farmers as a body 

 no trade-guild no banding of endeavor to work a 

 common triumph, or to ferret out a common abuse. 

 For years, in many parts of New England, the sheep 

 culture has been entirely ruined by the ravages of 

 lawless town-dogs ; and the farmers groan over it, 

 and bury the dead sheep, and whisper valorously be 

 tween church services about bludgeons and buck- 



* A strong effort, I am glad to see, is making to establish them 

 in various parts of the country. In my own neighborhood the old 

 town of Cheshire has made a bold stride in this direction, and I 

 trust not iu vain. They are worth more to the true interests of 

 farming than all the horse-trotting fairs which could be packed inta 

 A season. 



