THE TIM BUNKER PAPERS. 87 



ing any harm to the Society. They would have done bet 

 ter, if they had had better advisers. If the friends of good 

 order wont take the pains to be in their places, and make 

 their influence felt, they have no right to grumble when 

 things go wrong. 



The result was, that we had the largest annual meeting 

 we have ever held, and a new board of officers was put in, 

 without much division of sentiment. The Colonel s friends 

 were so much ashamed of their own folly, that they did 

 not make any show of opposition. These County Fairs 

 are doing so much good that I think every good citizen 

 ought to make sacrifices, if necessary, to sustain them. If 

 they are attended with some evils, as much can be said 

 against all other forms of associated effort. The millennium 

 has not come yet, and no wheels move with so little friction 

 that they do not need grease sometimes. Apply oil, and 

 stop the squeaking. Our Society has done more to set 

 folks to thinking about the principles of farming than any 

 thing we ever had among us. There has been a steady gain 

 every year in the variety and excellence of almost every 

 thing exhibited. The farmers see this and understand it, 

 while city people and careless observers think every show 

 is just alike, a chaotic mass of cabbages, turnips, and other 

 roots ; corn and other grains ; horses, cows, pigs, and 

 poultry. But the farmer recognizes at once the new Win- 

 ningstadt or Enfield among the cabbages, the Ashcroft 

 among the turnips, the Rhode Island Premium among 

 corn, or any new comer among kine or swine. There is 

 something to be learned every year. I have no doubt 

 that Seth Twiggs, Jake Frink, and Uncle Jotham, have 

 done more thinking about their business, the last two 

 years, than in all the rest of their lives. And when folks 

 begin to think about raising stock, and cultivating the 

 best crops, they soon discover their own ignorance, and 

 seek light. They want to talk and read. I guess there 

 are ten agricultural papers taken in this town where there 



