HOW TO BE BETTER FARMERS. 59 



vulgar tilings, not to be talked about. This, moreover is tlie 

 farmers' day, and I believe my mission is to them. 



I have spoken to you of becoming better farmers. Think me 

 not ignorant of the fact that you are good farmers already. I 

 should have learned that to-day, if I had not known it long 

 ago. But are you too good to become better ? I think you 

 will say not, for I have observed all over the country, that the 

 good farmers are the very ones. who desire to improve, while 

 the poor ones seem to think themselves good enough, and have 

 very little inclination to be better. 



My first suggestion is, .that you should cherish a good opinion 

 of your emjdoyment. If a few others, not worth heeding, speak 

 slightly of it, it is no matter. But when farmers themselves 

 have their misgivings about its respectability, the effect is all 

 bad, for no man living can do a thing that he is half ashamed 

 of as well as one that he is justly proud of. Plant yourself 

 therefore firmly on a good opinion of your calling. Such an 

 opinion is no fiction ; it is a verity ; it will stand as long as God 

 gives us land, and there are heads to direct and hands to work 

 it. Farming well followed gives a position good enough. 

 From that position, your good sense will, of course, teacli you 

 not to look down with scorn on the man who possesses less 

 acres ; and by all means let your conscious worth teach you 

 not to look up with feelings of inferiority to the man who con- 

 trives to get through life with softer hands, but with no better 

 head or heart. Perhaps you say there is no dignity in labor. 

 If so, you are half right and half wrong. In unintelligent 

 labor there is no dignity. Tlie opinions of mankind have so 

 decided long ago. But intelligent labor, wisely directed, and 

 leading to valuable results, is honorable, is attended with true 

 dignity, commands and receives the respect of mankind. None 

 but a shallow pate can despise such labor, if he tries. We are 

 so constituted that it is impossible. Suppose some of you are 

 managing your farms wisely, and others who hear me are man- 

 aging the shop as wisely, working the head and working the 

 hand, real working men, getting a good, honest living by work, 

 can I think less of you than of another, who is wasting life on 

 what his father earned ? No, it is impossible. None but a fool 

 can do that, and that is the only thing which a fool can do and 

 a wise man cannot. And now, farmers, the sooner you cau 



