1.859. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



573 



our vocation ; it is one there is nothing in to be 

 ashamed of, but, on the contrary, much to appre- 

 ciate and be proud of. With less temptation to 

 viciousness than the city denizens, why may we 

 not be more virtuous ? AVith less temptations 

 to prodigality, why may we not increase in this 

 world's goods as well as they ? With more leis- 

 ure for study, why not be more intellectual? 

 Springfield, Nov. 7, 18i59. J. A. A. 



Erratum. — In my article on "Tobacco versus 

 Useful Crops," recently published in the Farmer, 

 (Nov. number of monthly,) read in the state- 

 ment of expenses, for "topping, mowing, &c.," 

 topping, worming, &c. 



THE CliOSINQ YEAR. 



"We take no note of Time 



But from its loss ; to give it then a tongue 

 Is wise in man." 



The poet means the passage of Time. No time 

 is lost, that is well spent. There is, we suppose, 

 in reality, no such thing as the lapse of time : — 

 It is all NOW, to the Eternal Mind. What pass- 

 es, and decays, and disappears from our view, is 

 the finite, that upon which the elements act and 

 change from one form to another. 



The object of life that is clearly indicated both 

 by Nature and Revelation, is Progress ; pro- 

 gress, not only in subduing and replenishing the 

 earth, but Progress in the attributes of the soul. 

 We are to 



"Learn the mystery ot progression duly: 

 Not to call each glorious change decay ; 



For we know we only hold cur treasures truly. 

 When it seems as if they passed away. 



Nor dare to blame God's gifts for incompleteness ; 



In that want their beauty lies ; they roll 

 Towards some infinite depth of love and sweetness, 



Bearing onward man's reluctant soul." 



If there were no change, there would be no 

 progress. We call it the work of Time, — it is as 

 much the work of Eternity. All is tending to 

 the great work of perfection — upward and on- 

 ward towards the Infinite that has created and 

 governs all. JVotJiing retards and alloys but sin. 

 Nature is as active and more consistent in her 

 progress, than man. She clothes the earth in 

 the richest attire, and gives perfection to plant 

 and animal, that they may re-appear in still more 

 beautiful forms. The mighty forests fall, and in 

 their progress come to us again greatly increased 

 in value. Mountains and hills yield to the gen- 

 eral law, by gradually finding their level, and un- 

 folding the rich treasures which have for ages 

 been hidden in their deep recesses. And so the 

 "tooth of Time" will touch the proudest works of 

 man. 



"I saw him grasp the oak, — 



It fell ; the tower, it crumbled ; and the stone, 

 The sculptured monument that marked the grave 

 Of fallen greatness, ceased its pompous strain. 

 As Time came by." 



Now that another year has passed, — while its 

 last shifting sands are noiselessly gliding out, it 

 becomes ^(s, brother travellers, to review this pe- 

 riod of Time, and see what progress we have 

 made towards the divine life, the end and object 

 of all. Has it been satisfactory? Does the bal- 

 ance sheet stand fair, and the soul serenely wait 

 the verdict of the Great Judge ! Then all is well, 

 — for there has been progress in the very heart 

 of life, and the celestial streams lovingly down 

 into the terrene world. 



The year that has passed ! It has brought to 

 most the checkered scenes which it never has, 

 and never will, fail to bring. Sickness, and 

 death, and separation ; poverty, and want, and 

 disappointment ; sad and touching words, sting- 

 ing realities ! They mark the progress of exis- 

 tence everywhere, —but they come all too often, 

 and mainly through our own want of wisdom. 

 Cannot we profit by the past? Let us lay this 

 inquiry upon our hearts, and see that every fu- 

 ture thought, and word, and deed, is prompted 

 by that wisdom which is better than rubies, and 

 that shall be our stay and comfort in every time 

 of trial. 



Farewell! then, Old Tear! It has been rich 

 in blessings, and among the best of them have 

 been the pleasant associations with those who 

 habitually read these columns, and for whose pros- 

 perity and happiness our frequent communings 

 have excited a sympathy almost as lively as for 

 those that gather around our own hearth-stone. 

 Then let the Old Year go, — let others come and 

 go, and give us no anxious thought, while we 

 strive to progress in virtue and heavenly wisdom 

 as well as in material things. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 SEED-EATING BIBDS. 



Mr. Editor : — In your issue of Oct. 15th, 

 Mr. "Aquila" has attempted to read me a homily. 

 He says that all seed-eating birds, such as the 

 yellow bird, deserve a full share of the denuncia- 

 tion for scattering the seeds of injurious weeds. 

 It is an incontrovertible fact that seeds having 

 their flinty coverings broken, will never germi- 

 nate. Mr. Aquila, nor any other equally scien- 

 tific man, ever saw any seed-eating bird swallow 

 a seed without first breaking its coating, for it is 

 the kernel required for sustenance, which is not 

 obtainable with its indigestible covering. So 

 much for seed-eating birds, which I protect, hav- 

 ing erected several houses on high poles for their 

 encouragement. 



^^Videre est credere." Fruit, or pulp-eating 

 birds never eat the seed of fruit, if it is avoida- 

 ble ; the seed of the pear or apple they never 

 eat ; but their stupidity, or greediness, never 

 discards the seed of small fruits, and that every 

 seed has its germ perfect, after having passed 

 the bird, is a fact not disputable. He says, "many 

 times have I seen robins follow the plow, picking 



