104 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



culties to be overcome, and hardships to be endured. The 

 merchant talks of his bad debts and constant confinement ; 

 the mechanic will tell you there is no demand for his labor 

 on account of dull times. Men receiving large salaries are 

 not contented, but fear another day will find them out of 

 employment. Of all occupations farming appears to be the 

 safest. Farmers do not always become wealthy, l)ut most 

 of them own a good home and can obtain a comfortable liv- 

 ing for themselves and their families, and this is more than 

 can be said of many that are engaged in other pursuits. 

 There are successes and failures in any calling. No l)usi- 

 ness occupation or employment is as sure as farming, pro- 

 viding the necessary conditions of success are complied with. 

 At the present time farming affords better opportunities to 

 laboring men of moderate means than any other business, if 

 they possess the necessary knowledge of the business. To- 

 day the life of the agriculturist is as honorable and pure as 

 that of any class of men. Men have a natural love for 

 mother earth, and the young man who makes his home in 

 the busy city looks back with longing eyes to the old coun- 

 trj'^ homestead, in some rural spot beneath the shady trees, 

 and as he turns back to visit it after many years what mem- 

 ories cro\vd upon him in his anticipations of seeing his old 

 home once more ! 



Ah ! here it is, that clear old place, 



Unchanged through all these years ! 

 How like to some familiar face 



My childhood home appears ! 

 The grand old trees beside the door 



Still spread their branches wide ; 

 The river wanders as of yore. 



With sweetly murmring tide. 

 The birds are singing in the lea. 



The flowers are blooming wild ; 

 And things appear the same to me 



As wlien T was a child. 



Home may l)e the largest as well as the most pleasant 

 l>art of tliis earth, if we will make it such. There is no one 

 who possesses as many opportunities for making home 

 pleasant and delightful as the man who lives in the country. 

 Sunlight, pure air, trees and flowers can be enjoyed almost 



