52 . MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



true gentleman marked all his movements and all his words. 

 I well remember the bland smile with which he used to pass us 

 boys, playing ball in the streets of Lenox, turning his horse out 

 of the road so as not to interrupt our sport, while other travel- 

 lers often seemed to take a malicious pleasure in dashing over 

 our wicket sticks, (base ball was not in fashion then.) As the 

 sheriff rode by, the universal feeling was, and it often found vent 

 in expression, " He is a gentleman." If Sheriff Root were not 

 present, I would add the county has great reason for congratu- 

 lation that the mantle of Sheriff Brown has fallen upon so 

 worthy a successor. We might conclude from the gentlemanly 

 bearing of our sheriffs that there was something in the air of 

 our courts necessarily leading to courteous manners, but the 

 wrangling of the lawyers forbids such a conclusion. 



A Christian should ever study to be a gentleman. We are 

 poor followers of our meek and lowly but divine Master if we 

 do not strive to imitate the only perfect example of courtesy 

 that was ever exhibited on the earth. When he was reviled, he 

 reviled not again. When mocked, scourged and crucified, his 

 feeling for his enemies was a mingled one of pity and compas- 

 sion, and his prayer was, " Father, forgive them, for they know 

 not what they do." Still there was no cringing fear in the pres- 

 ence of those who were above him in station ; no want of 

 decision and manliness, as the Temple bore witness when defiled 

 by those who had made it a '' den of thieves." 



If the isolated life of the farmer tends to make him awkward, 

 he should study all the more to overcome this obstacle to his 

 advance in social position. Tbe command, " Be courteous," is 

 binding upon all men — is just as applicable to the farmer as to 

 the attendant upon the kings' courts., Nor are we wanting in 

 examples of polished gentlemanly manners among those who 

 follow the plough for a living. I have in my mind's eye a 

 farmer living not two miles from my own home, now past his 

 threescore and ten years, all spent in hard labor upon the farm, 

 whom I never approach without the feeling of respect which the 

 courteous, dignified air of a gentleman always inspires. I have 

 met him frequently from my boyhood and under varied circum- 

 stances, in his barnyard and in his parlor ; but whether seated 

 on a three-legged stool milking his cows, or in a more undigni- 

 fied position shearing his Cotswolds ; whether clad in towcloth 



