40 THE BUSINESS OF FARMING 



and the farmer's produce rots in the fields. So 

 if the farmer is not a brave man with the true 

 spirit of fight within him, and so equipped to fight 

 the^ discouragements that constantly beset the 

 business of farming, he, too, passes under the 

 baleful influences of discouragement. 



But when he comes under such influences he 

 can, as every other discouraged man can, gain 

 much comfort and relief in the study of compari- 

 son. Compare your condition with your less 

 fortunate neighbor, and you will, if your mind has 

 not already become imbittered with the spirit of 

 a malcontent, find that after all there is much in 

 your life for which you should be thankful, and 

 for which you are under obligations to show your- 

 self a man, that your less fortunate neighbor may 

 be helped in deed and by your example. 



The awful depressing shadow of discourage- 

 ment must needs fall upon us all that we may bet- 

 ter enjoy the lit up landscapes of life. 



There are periods in the life of each one of us 

 when we flee to our gardens of Gethsemane, 

 where we fall upon our faces and pray for the 

 passing of the cup of discouragement. For how 

 often we exclaim: "Let me hide in the hidden 

 cleft of the rocks far away from the haunts of 

 men where we can be alone with Nature that she 

 may heal the stinging wounds of discourage- 

 ment/' When these periods of discouragement 

 come to us who are engaged in the business of 

 farming, we should rise phoenix-like from its 

 ashes, go out and seek some work, and apply our- 

 selves to it so vigorously that it will set the slug- 

 gish blood in our veins to so active a circulation 



