22 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



does not need such an education ; and if you think so, you 

 cannot blame others if they follow your example. 



There is no reason why men of the very highest educa 

 tion should not go to a farm for their living. If a son of 

 mine were brought up on purpose to be a farmer, if that 

 was the calling which he preferred, I still would educate 

 him, if he had common sense to begin with. He would be 

 as much better for it as a farmer, as he would as a lawyer. 

 There is no reason why a thoroughly scientific education 

 should not be given to every farmer and to every mechanic. 

 A beginning must be made at the common school. Every 

 neighborhood ought to have one. But they do not grow 

 of themselves, like toad-stools. And no decent man will 

 teach school on wages which a canal boy, or a hostler would 

 turn up his nose at. You may as well put your money into 

 the fire as to send it to a &quot;make-believe &quot; teacher a great 

 noodle-head, who teaches school because he is fit for nothing 

 else ! Lay out to get a good teacher. Be willing to pay 

 enough to make it worth while for &quot; smart &quot; men to become 

 your teachers. And when your boys show an awakening 

 taste for books, see that they have good histories, travels, 

 and scientific tracts and treatises. Above all, do not let a 

 boy get a notion that if he is educated, he must, of course, 

 quit the farm. Let him get an education that he may mako 

 a better farmer. I do not despair of yet seeing a genera 

 tion of honest politicians. Educated farmers and educated 

 mechanics, who are in good circumstances, and do not need 

 office for a support, nor make politics a trade, will stand 

 the best chance for honesty. But the Lord deliver us from 

 the political honesty of tenth-rate lawyers, vagabond doc 

 tors, bawling preachers, and bankrupt clerks, turned into 

 patriotic politicians ! 



