94 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Labor becomes, then, all ranks and conditions of men. There 

 can be no respectability without it. Let us, then, in whatsoever 

 pursuit we may be engaged, strive to dignify it by honest, manly 

 and straight-forward industry. The aims of the laborer should 

 be high and noble, and his daily duties should be set round 

 with the Christian virtues ; his work should not be for selfish 

 and mercenary purposes only, to gratify a foolish pride, to 

 stimulate envy, or pander to a false ambition, but it should be 

 performed in that spirit which will exalt, rather than debase his 

 character, which will elevate the hopes and aspirations of 

 mankind. 



Labor should be hopeful. No matter what obstacles stand in 

 his way, no matter how many difficulties it has to contend with, 

 by patience, which Buffon says is genius, they may be overcome ; 

 and in one such triumph, how much strength is gained, how 

 much renewed moral courage impels the hand and the brain, 

 after such a victory. Said Dessaix at the battle of Marengo, 

 when the French columns were wavering and breaking, " Sire, 

 I think this is a battle lost." " Sir," said Napoleon, "I think 

 this is a battle won ! " and in an hour after, the eagles of France 

 flew to victory. 



Despair often whispers to the overworn and wearied sons of 

 toil, " your life is a battle lost," but hope comes with her 

 celestial garments, in the darkest hours of trial, of danger, and 

 temptation, and breathes in heavenly accents, the immortal 

 words, " your life is a battle won." 



All labor should be intelligent. It has grown to be a maxim, 

 that always near the hearing ear will be found the speaking 

 voice. We may with justice assert, that allied to the working 

 hand should be found the trained and educated brain. The 

 means of education should be open and accessible to all ; and 

 if individual means or interest fail, the state should provide for 

 the establishment of schools and institutions suitable for the 

 instruction of every individual in the elements of knowledge. 

 No child should be suffered to grow to manhood in a free, 

 Christian commonwealth, without a sound and healthful culture, 

 fitted by his training for any one of the departments of indus- 

 try known to a high order of civilization. These institutions, 

 having all the rigorous forms of discipline with perhaps less 

 elaborate study of the sciences than the Academy of France, or 



