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ready limited share of himself, and those who yet prefer the quiet 

 homestead, to fit out^for some undecided profession, or dubious branch 

 of traffic, him who, under this misplaced partiality, now goes abroad, 

 in time to return, a prodigal son, or, as is often the case, to beggar 

 the family by his extravagance. 



On the other side, it may be said, that the enterprising lad, thus 

 leaving his home with laborious habits and well fixed principles, soon 

 engages in some active pursuit, and succeeds far beyond a brother of 

 perhaps equal talent, who has remained at home, and only inherited 

 the toil and poverty of the parent, in whose track he had diligently 

 pursued. Very true ; but mark the difference in advantage. The 

 adventurous youth had fallen on a beaten track, with intelligent lights 

 to aid his course, which, only to follow with engergy and prudence, 

 was to succeed. The other had groped along in a cloud of tradition- 

 ary fog, and floundered on in the uncertainty of guess-work, with no 

 accurate light to guide him; like the mariner who departs on his voy- 

 age, with ship and sails to be sure, but miserably appointed, without 

 rudder, chart or compass; while the first, with ship well found, and a 

 master mind at helm, is wafted on to a successful destination. 



Do you ask for the reflux of tide from the mass of other to Agricul- 

 tural pursuits 1 You look for it in vain. How many, bred in our 

 cities, towns, and villages', seek the farm for employment leave the 

 too often casual occupations of the crowd, and take to the plough, or 

 to the forest 1 None whatever. Or if, perchance, there be an isola- 

 ted case of the sort, it is, when following the parent, who, tired of 

 the world's vanities, or its fitful changes, wisely retires to the farm 

 for that solid good which a bustling world had denied him. 



There is another great and responsible class among us who have an 

 abiding interest in the exaltation of our Agriculture. I speak ot the 

 wealthy classes distributed throughout our cities, towns, and villages. 

 Owing to the free and happy institutions we enjoy, well directed in- 



