1890.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 317 



keep their ranks filled ? Or what could these professional 

 gentlemen do with their best stock, if the farmer's vocation 

 was not open to them ? 



While, as already admitted, the gains from agricultural 

 pursuits are slow, they are, I think, more certain than in 

 those callings Avhero the " profit and loss account " is greater. 

 It was stated by the senior member of this Board, in his able 

 paper a year ago, that, of all cases of insolvent delators 

 returned to the oflice of the Secretary of this Commonwealth 

 during ten years, only about one-fifth of one per cent were 

 farmers. Everybody knows how the receipt of large but 

 irregular profits tends to extravagance in expenditure, while 

 the slow but steady gains of the farmer rather encourage 

 economy, which, if practiced in connection with wisely 

 directed industry, will generally bring success in any calling. 

 It is the money saved, rather than that earned, w^hich makes 

 a man rich. And yet I would not have this maxim pressed 

 too far. Provide generously for the comfort and education 

 of your household, and be liberal and public-spirited as a 

 citizen ; but do not waste your income upon needless and 

 hurtful indulgences. 



Having chosen your occupation, commence at once, w^ith 

 a determined purpose, your thorough preparation for it. 

 Make yourself familiar with the principles which underlie it. 

 Learn all you can from books bearing upon the subject, and 

 especially from the experience of those who have become 

 eminent and successful in it. Cultivate perseverance, and 

 do not be discouraged by difiiculties, for these you must 

 expect to meet, not only in the outset, but all through life. 



Be self-reliant. You are to enter into a hand-to-hand 

 conflict with the obstacles and hindrances of btlsiness life ; 

 with over-reaching dishonesty and honorable competition, 

 the allurements of vice and the temptations to indolent ease. 

 But remember that " success is a duty," and determine to win 

 it, although the circumstances which surround you may 

 seem adverse. Take heart from the words of the poet : — 



"How small, of all that human hearts endure, 

 That part which laws or kings can cause or cure ; 

 Still, to ourselves, in every place confined, 

 Our own felicity wc make or find." 



