44 THE BUSINESS OF FAEMING 



if we would live possessed fully of our every 

 faculty, we must get into the game of life with 

 that activity that will give the white corpuscles 

 a chance to do their work, and when we have done 

 that, the discouragements will not overtake us. 



We, too, should remember that happiness is 

 largely a state of the mind. He who possesses 

 a " conscience clear, a mind at ease" and can be 

 amused by the " simple pleasures that always 

 please," has won its elusive smile. But to pos- 

 sess the "conscience clear," we must be engaged 

 in honest employment or business and give the 

 "square deal" to our fellow man. 



To possess the mind at ease is not to do the 

 things that prick the conscience, be possessed of 

 a healthy body and ever be industriously engaged 

 about something worth while, ever remembering 

 and giving due obeisance to the God that holds 

 our destinies in his hands. 



To possess the simple pleasures is within the 

 reach of us all, for it is nothing more than en- 

 joying the harmless pleasures that do not over 

 excite, and stimulate, and which are incident to 

 our stations in life, within the reach of all, and 

 that satisfy, if our minds be in the right condi- 

 tion. Sighing and striving for the pleasures and 

 the things above our station in life, even though, 

 we could possess them, would not add one mite to 

 our happiness, and is the pricking thorn that irri- 

 tates, producing the festering, poisoned sore of 

 unrest and unhappiness. 



These reflections upon discouragements and 

 their cure are here recorded because the author 

 knows that every farmer is subject to their in- 



