34 AGRICULTURE CONSIDERED, ETC. 



society, — is not a good citizen, whatever may be his pre- 

 tensions to talents or to wealth. 



Now, agricultural employment, in the first place, enables 

 us to provide by our industry for all the first wants, and 

 for most of the substantial comforts of life ; — to superin- 

 tend and assist in the education of our children ; to form 

 their habits, restrain their bad passions and propensities, 

 and to start them in life in a course of industry and use- 

 fulness. 



In the second place, the condition of the agriculturist 

 enables him to help his neighbor, and promote his wel- 

 fare, in a variety of ways — by his counsel, by pecuniary 

 aid, and particularly by his example. In the city, in- 

 dividual example is limited in its influence, or lost in the 

 crowd, except in very eminent individuals ; but in the 

 country, it becomes conspicuous to all ; and the good 

 farmer is sure of benefiting those around him, not only 

 by the improvements which he introduces upon his farm, 

 but by his exemplary deportment in life. 



In the third place, no one is better fitted than the 

 farmer, to appreciate his high obligations to society, — no 

 one has a stronger interest in performing them. He en- 

 joys the frurts of his labor in peace and quietude, because 

 the laws protect him. He participates in all public im- 

 provements, as they tend to enhance the value of his 

 farm and his products. He rejoices in the prosperity of 

 other professions, as they are his customers. He sees 

 constantly around him the works of Creative Wisdom ; he 

 sees that they are all governed by immutable laws — and 

 that he is himself subject to these laws ; and his employ- 

 ments, his reflections, and a conscious sense of duty, 

 impel in him a desire to aid in carrying out the great and 

 beneficent designs of the Lawgiver. 



Having considered agriculture in its influence upon the 

 prosperity of nations, — having demonstrated its suscep- 

 tibility of great improvements, and noticed some of the 

 principles and profits of the new husbandry ; and having 

 endeavored to satisfy our readers, that there is no employ- 

 ment so conducive to health and happiness, by the labor 

 and study which it involves, as this parent art, — we will 



