Vol. 6. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



151 



Vernon, the Farmer of Monticello, the Farmer of the 

 Hermitage, the Farmer of Ashland, the Farmer of North 

 Bend, the Farmer of Tennessee, the Farmer of Marsh- 

 field, and the Farmer of Lindenwald : thus proving, that 

 allhongh all Farmers cannot be Presidents, all Presidents 

 mast be Farmers. 



In Agricultural life, continued Mr. Q., there are ver>' 

 great opportunities for usefulness. When you place you- 

 seed in the ground, you know not the extent of its pror 

 duct; hut when you sow the seeds of virtue, you are sure 

 of an abundant return. One hundred years ago, there 

 lived m Boston, a poor Tallow Chandler — wise and hon- 

 est. It was his custom every morning, to repeat this 

 text : " See a man diligent in business, he shall stand 

 before Kings." This seed was sown in good ground. 

 His youngest boy was " diligent in business," and he did 

 '■ stand before Kings." He snatched the lightning from 

 the clouds, and cast sceptres from the hands of Kings. — 

 On his death bed, he said that to his father's precepts, he 

 attributed his success in life. He caused a monument to 

 be reared to that father's memory ; but his noblest mon- 

 ument was his son's character. The example which he 

 gave of thrift and diligence, has induced thousands to im- 

 itate his example ; and yet unborn millions will testify to 

 the benefits of a single scripture text upon the mind and 

 character of Benjamin Franklin. 



Mental improvement is essential to the happiness of a 

 Farmer. In my ideal of a Farmer, is included more than 

 mere reaping of fields and filling of barns. He did not 

 expect a Farmer to be learned in what is not useful. But 

 if he enjoys health, let him know something of the admi- 

 rable machine which is thus kept in healthful operation 

 by an Almighty hand. Let him know something of the 

 physiology of the vegetable world, and every blade will 

 speak to him of the beneficence of the Creator. It is in 

 the power of everj' man to devote a portion oi' his time to 

 these sublime pursuits. It will make his walks pleasant- 

 er and his flowers sweeter. 



Nothing, continued Mr. Q. , is more important than 

 mental culture, except moral discipline. Every condition 

 of man involves trial, but not in the same degree. It is 

 not from every condition of life that the narrow gate is 

 entered through the eye of a needle. There are compar- 

 atively few temptations in agriculturnl life. It is a life 

 which rests upon no man's promise, but upon Hie who 

 hath promised summer aud winter, seed time and harvest. 



And while free from temptation, such a life gives com- 

 plete scope for the performance of all those duties which 

 make men better and happier. Every man cannot render 

 himself conspicuous in the eye of the world, by rendering 

 great service to his country. But it is not tliey whose pres- 

 ence draws forth the shout of the multitude, who alone are 

 useful. God approves the services of the venerable Patri- 

 arch whose presence draws tears from the eye, and bles- 

 sings from the tongue of those who have felt his unosten- 

 tatious acts of kindness. 



The farmer, like the natriarch of old, stands at the head 

 of his family. When tne Great Law Giver led his cho- 

 sen people out of bondage and established them in Judea, 

 allHisdispensed institutions proved how much He thought 

 of the influence of agriculture in forming human charac- 

 ter. To remember and love Him, and rejoice before Him 

 on national anniversaries and festal days, was the great 

 command. The second was like unto it — kindness to 

 the stranger and the fatherless. Nor was the brute for- 

 gotten. The chosen people were directed to remember 

 them when they should gather in their fruits, and not to 

 " muzzle tho ox that treadeth out the corn." 



The scenes which surround the Farmer, cannot but 

 lead his mind upward. The high mountains — the lovely 

 valleys — the green fields and tlie dancing brooks — all 

 cheer hinr on his joyous pilgrimage. The glorious sun 

 sends his rays to the millions of the tillers of the earth, to 

 enrich their toil, and to cheer them on in their career of 

 happy contentment. 



The religious feeling is no where so naturally produced, 

 as amid the rural scenes with which the farmer is sur- 

 rounded. The Shepherd boy of Israel, while keeping 



his father's flocks, was filled with admiration of God's 

 munificence, and exclaimed, in holy rapture — " What is 

 man that Thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that 

 Thou regardest him ?" Veneration and love bursts spon- 

 taneously from his lips ; and when all wrapped in holy 

 gratitude, he exclaimed, " The Lord is my Shepherd ; I 

 shall not want. " But anon, his voice comes to us from 

 the camp and the tented field, — from the palace and the 

 throne ; but in a tone how altercdl The inspiration of 

 the shepherd does not follow him. The remorse of cou- 

 science and the despair of guilt are there ; and as he re- 

 members his joyous pastoral life, well might he exclaim — 

 " Oh! that I had the wings of a dove that I might flee 

 away and be at rest!" 



Nevertheless, some of my hearers may say — " Well, 

 that is all very poetic ; but I want to be rich. That i."; 

 the success at which I aim, and I never can be happy as 

 a Farmer." No, nor you never could be happy in any 

 vocation. How could you be happy while you are envi- 

 ous, avaricious, ambitious ? You have no more chance 

 to be happy, under any circumstances, than were the en- 

 vious, avaricious and ambitious angels who rebelled and 

 were cast out of heaven. The inspired penman summed 

 it all up in a few words — " With contentment there is 

 great gain." 



The agricultural life, said Mr. Q., is one eminently 

 adapted to produce human happiness and virtue. But he 

 should despise no other calling. Despise not the wealth 

 of the merchant. It has been earned at a cost which it 

 is impossible to estimate. While the farmer rests quietly 

 after his day of toil, the sleep of the merchant is disturb- 

 ed by overwhelming fears. The rewards of your labor is 

 sure. You know that so long as God's promise lasts, you 

 are safe ; while he knows that a " change of times" — 

 the slightest interruption in the wheels of commerce, may 

 engulph him in irretrievable ruin and bankruptcy. 



Envy not the student. His pale cheek shows at what 

 expense his knowledge is obtained. He is shut up in the 

 smoky cabinet or cloister, while you enjoy the pure 

 breezes of heaven. 



Envy not the distinguished statesman. His name may 

 be in every mouth ; but envy and malice follow him. 

 And he feels that should he attain the highest stations, he 

 will make hundreds of enemies for every oflicc it is in his 

 power to bestow. 



The situation of the Farmer is that in which the Al- 

 mighty placed his people in their days of comparative in- 

 nocence, and to that situation many of His laws refer ; 

 and when in the fullness of time, the Messiah came, it 

 was to the shepherds that his advent was announced, by 

 a chorus of angels. It has been honored as the choice 

 of the great and good of all ages. It was chosen by the 

 Almighty for his people under the old dispensation, and 

 they were the earliest recipients of his favor under the 

 new. Agriculture conduces to health and competence ; 

 and in giving these, it gives all this life can bestow, and, 

 if rightly improved, they will open to him a glorious fu- 

 ture. 



At the close of this beantit'ul address, thus imperfectly 

 sketched, 



.1. A. King, Esq., paid Mr, Q. a deserved and very 

 handsome compliment, and moved a vote of thanks to the 

 distinguished speaker ; and that a copy be solicited for 

 publication. 



This was carried unanimously ; and after a vote of 

 thanks to the citizens of Utica, 



The State Agricultural Fair for 1845, was declared 

 closed. 



For the Geuesco Fanner. 



AGRICULTURAL FAIRS. 



Mr. Editor — The summers scorching heat being 

 over, and the refreshing' showers which have lately 

 fallen, having- restored to the parched fields their 

 wonted garb of luxiirant green, I resolved to pay 

 a visit to my numerous farming friends ; and as I 

 passed along, I was charmed to see the delightful 



