18 



will say how he has ho[)ed lu have, one <lay, some quiet spot 

 Avhere the evening of life could glide tranquilly on amidst 

 the repose and ))eauty of nature ; how he lias longed to live 

 again amon^the holy things of his early days, which have 

 had an intinencc on the better part of his life. He Avill tell 

 how his sleep has been tinged with recollections of the past, 

 dreaming over his boy-time once more ; hearing the song of 

 birds, as it used to come in the twilight through the windows, 

 mingled with the breath of the honeysuckle, and feeling 

 again the south wind i)lay in the Taven locks of his child- 

 hood."* 



These truthful words, — 



"They haunt nie sfill, though many a year has fled. 

 Like some wikl )iiek)dy ; " 



and Avill, so long as my memory shall hold its throne. And 

 I am happy in the thought that the spotless mantle of this 

 most estimable man has fallen upon a son who is worthy to 

 l)car it. 



Had the principles of agricidtural reform and improve- 

 ments l)een as well understood as the principles which gov- 

 ern our mercantile interests, and been^is well applied, our 

 New England farms Avould not present the barren spectacle 

 Avhich in some instances avc now behold. You cannot vio- 

 late the laws of the soil any more than you can the laws 

 which govern your physical system. Similar laws govern 

 l)oth. Nature will supply the demands of growth according to 

 her resources ; and when exhausted, must receive back the 

 elements of which she has l)een robbed, or she refuses longer 

 to yield her wonted harvest. Science enjoins upon agricul- 

 ture the condition of a self-sustaining vitalit}'. Whatever is 

 taken from the soil by the harvest must be returned to it 

 again ; otherwise a great injury is inflicted, not only upon 



* The late Hon. C.ieoi;,'e It. lUissell. 



