42 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



WHY A MASSACHUSETTS FARMER SHOULD 

 BE CONTENT. 



From an Address before the Norfolk Agricultural Society. 



BY GEORGE S. IIILLARD. 



I propose to occupy jour attention with a statement of some 

 of the reasons which should make a Massachusetts farmer con- 

 tented with his lot. I would fain induce the farmers of Massa- 

 chusetts to plant and cultivate the herb called Heart's-ease, 

 which the shepherd boy whom Christiana and Mr. Great Heart 

 saw in the Valley of Humiliation, carried in his bosom. It is 

 a wholesome herb, and its breath is sweeter than violets, and I 

 do not think it grows in New England gardens so generally as 

 it should do. I hold it to be a good work to strive to make 

 men contented with their lot. Godliness with contentment, 

 says tlie apostle, is great gain. Observe how the two things are 

 joined — godliness with coiitentment. Godliness without con- 

 tentment may be gain ; but it is not great gain, at least, not the 

 greatest. The goodness which is sour, ungracious, and repin- 

 ing, — which has no effusions of gratitude to God, or kindliness 

 to man — is a poor and imperfect thing; it is heat without light, 

 like the warmth of a conservatory ; but godliness with content- 

 ment is like God's blessed sunshine, at once warmth and light. 



Every human being is the centre of many circles. Some of 

 these embrace all the relations of humanity : some comprehend 

 those of country and political society; and others are limited 

 to the particular calling by which one's bread is earned. Every 

 farmer in Massachusetts is first, a man ; second, a citizen, and 

 last, a farmer. But I shall eliminate all the elements and con- 

 siderations except those which belong to the innermost circle, 

 and shall confine myself to those points which touch the farm- 

 ing population of Massachusetts, and do not go beyond them. 



