PRACTICAL FARMER. 



171 



tlie mail of wealth inrliilges in siicli prot'iis-ion, if 

 lie is a pliilantliropist, lie will reiiifinber that his 

 example may be followed hy those wjio cannot 

 so well bear the expense; if he is a father, he 

 will remember that his children will hardly be 

 content with any sitnation or manner of living 

 inferior to those to which they have been used 

 uuder the paternal roof. 



If I had not already trespassed too far on your 

 patience, I would speak of the im|)ortance of do- 

 mestic manufactiu'es, as affording the only ready 

 and constant market for the surplus liroductions 

 of your farms, and as indispensable to the real 

 iudependcnce of the country — I would say some- 

 thing of the cidtivation of mulberry trees and the 

 rearing of silk-worms, as afVording a jirofitable 

 and pleasant employment at home for those mem- 

 bers of your. family whose health and whose vir- 

 tue might be too much exposed abroad. There 

 are many other tojiics of domestic economy of 

 great interest, but most of them have been learn- 

 edly, or what is better, practically, treated by 

 gentlemen who have addressed you on former 

 occasions. But there is one subject which is 

 becoming so important, and the evils of which are 

 so general and serious, that you will be disposed 

 to allow it a nioment's consideration. I mean the 

 difficulty of obtaining experienced, able and faith- 

 ful help. The complaint has been growing louder 

 and more frequent, and a remedy is most desirable. 

 But a few years since, for the reasonable com[ien- 

 sation ami the kind treatment they always deserve, 

 we could easily liml diligent and faithful young 

 men and young women who were willing to afi'ord 

 us their assistance — and a mutual benefit was 

 received and conferred, and readily acknowledged 

 — it was an exchange of good offices ; while they 

 cheerfully gave us their assistance and attention 

 in the labors of the farm and of the house, ihoy 

 were learning the principles of good husbandry 

 and good housewifery — they were preparing 

 themselves for that station in life to which every 

 young man and young woman should be looking 

 forward, to the relation of husbands and wives, to 

 the sitiuition of masters and mistresses of families 

 of their own. A well managed farm and a well 

 regulated househo d are almost the only schools 

 where this prej aratory education can be acquired 

 by the young; they must learn to obey before 

 they can be fit to command ; they must learn the 

 lessons of good management before they can 

 practise tbem. And let them be assured that 

 there is nothing dishonorable or degrading in 

 attending this school, or in learning these lessons, 

 for there is no station or occu[)ation which is not 

 reputable when honorably followed, and they, and 

 they only, are useful and worthy members of 

 society who are engaged in some useful employ- 

 rtitnh Catrtivartng «b the bharms c(f tfefetity may 



be, and fascinating as Hre some of the polite 

 accomplishments, let no young woman rely so 

 much on these means of obtaining admiration and 

 securing affection, as on the ability to make her- 

 self nsefid ; for although a lover may be blind, a 

 husband has eyes — although music, and painting, 

 and dancing, and endiroidery, may be very pleasant 

 amusements, and afford gratification for a leisure 

 hour, there are other hours besides those of d.l- 

 liance and revelry, and other senses besides those 

 of seeing and hearing — senses, too, which have 

 more inijierious demands; and thcrtj is danger 

 that the wife or tiie mother who is not jirepared 

 to answer these constant demands, beautiful and 

 elegantly accomplished though she may be, will 

 not long appear graceful or lovely in the eyes of 

 her husband. Siune circumstances of fortune or 

 station, or delicacy of health, may make it unne- 

 cessary or. improper that a woman should perform 

 active labor with her own hands, but there is no 

 rank or station in which a lady can be placed 

 where it is not desirable that she should know 

 how the atTairs of her household ought to be man- 

 aged. I know that I give but cold and feelile 

 utterance to the feelings of this Society in bidding 

 a welcome, a cordial wel-'onie, to that portion of 

 the fairer and gentler sex who have honored this 

 farmer's holiday with their presence. Without 

 their encoinaging smiles and cheerful assistance, 

 even farming would be dull business. *•! cannot 

 offer for their consideration a belter sentiment 

 than that contained in the words of a learned, ele- 

 gant, and distinguished foreign lady, who says, 

 " the only celebrity tiiat can increase a woman's 

 hajipiness, is that which results from the esteem 

 excited by her domestic virtues'' — and I will 

 add, there is no jiraise, no applause, no glory in 

 the wiile world more worthy a woman's ambition 

 than the fame of a well regulated household. 



But pleasant, healthful and indispensable as the 

 labors of the dtld and of the kifehen and the 

 dairy may be, and excellent as is the course of 

 discipline both for the body and the mind, there 

 is danger that too many young men . and women 

 will prefer w.hat they consider a more fashionable 

 employment and a more elegant education. And 

 you, as a Society, perhaps cannot do much to ex- 

 pose the mistake or to remedy the evil. It has 

 however, occurred to me that it would be no per- 

 version of your funds if you were to oficr suita- 

 ble premiums to such faithful, diligent, temperate 

 and skilful man or woman as had remained for 

 one or more years iu the em|)Ioynient of any 

 member of the Society ; besides, as an ad;Iitioii;d 

 encouiagcment and reward for their faithfuaiess, 

 they Jiiight receive the Society's certificate, ac- 

 companied by some useful treatise on rural econ- 

 omy or domestic duties, such as Fcssenden's 

 Cbfnip1fet*e Farmer; for tbfe ralalfe^ Bwd Mrs UhiH's 



