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management. With prudence and good husbandry, though his 

 crops may occasionally fail, he can always obtain a good living 

 without sale or mortgage of his lands. His capital is always 

 safe, and his accumulations, though small, are certain. He 

 may not die a rich man, and he will not live a bankrupt. 



But let him compare his condition with that of the farmer of 

 half a century ago. It is plain that if he would be content to 

 live as the farmer then did, upon the products of his farm, 

 from his surplus productions, with the market of to-day, he 

 could soon acquire wealth. But the farmer of to-day does not 

 so live, and he has abundant reason to thank God that he is 

 not compelled to. The farmer of to-day lives better than did 

 the farmer of half a century ago. He receives not only the 

 necessaries of life, but enjoys many of its comforts and 

 luxuries. He dresses better, his house is better and more 

 comfortable, and furnished with taste, and even elegance. He 

 has more time and opportunities for reading and study. He 

 mingles more with the world. He invests more in charities. 

 He is enabled to improve himself, and to properly care for and 

 educate his children, the best and noblest products of his farm. 

 He is enabled to accomplish all these things from the profits of 

 his fields, and if at the end of the year he has laid by no more 

 than did the farmer of half a century ago, he has made 

 investments which no calamities in the future can destroy. 



But I am reminded by the place of our meeting of " the 

 fields that no man ploughs, and the farm that pays no fee." 



These fields are yours, sturdy men of Cape Ann. The 

 boundless deep with its myriad products is spread out before 

 you. The plough, the spade, the hoe, are implements unknown 

 in your farming. Beneath the sounding sea is the vast and 

 fertile garden, which for all time and without cultivation, will 

 furnish the nutriment for your productions. Your farming, 

 though full of toil and danger, is a continual harvest. You 

 are joint tenants of the farm — each gathers where he pleases, 

 without causing any diminution for those who follow. 



Your products, like those of the farmer who ploughs his 

 fields, find a free market not only in our own, but in every 

 section of the country. 



