ADVICE TO A YOUNG FARMER. 279 



to the mind of' his fnmilj^ For this purpose it'sboul<] be 

 his object, in the lirst place, to acquii-e himsell, and to 

 impart to his offspring at least a common ediicntion. — 

 This is a good foundation for mental imi)rovejnent, but 

 nothing more. It should be regarded in every man's 

 hands, merely as the instrument of rearing and establish- 

 ing that intellectual superstructure, which is to give hitn 

 character, consecpience, ca[)acity and happiness in the 

 various stations he may be called to sustain in society. 



There is no greater mistake, than in imaginino-, lii.^t 

 because a scholar' has mastered his spelling, rea-Jin.^, 

 writing, grammar and arithmetic, he is then entitled to 

 dismiss his books, take up his farming tools, and bend a 

 single eye to his agricultural avocaliQus. Such a course 

 is inexcusable. A wide and unbounded field of knowl- 

 edge lies beiore him, inviiing bis culture, of which he as 

 yet possesses no more than the utensils for improve- 

 ment. 



Nothing but absolute poverty can excuse a man from 

 the purchase of books, and attention to study. But the 

 farmer in the mi Idle walks of life, who wi:h his brethren 

 constitutes the greal body of our popu:ation, no matter 

 how numerous bis family, if bred as they should be to 

 habits of strict economy and industry — he has leisure to 

 pass without employment in business, many of his lono- 

 •winter evenings, and much of the day time during the 

 same period, in the improvement of his mind. He has 

 the means of purchasing a small collection of hooks for 

 purposes of the most immediate utility, to serve as a 

 manual for himself and family, and to till up those little 

 interstices of leisure continually occuring, which the po- 

 et calls " Catching the transient hour, and improving- 

 each moment as it flies." While his more enlarged re- 

 searches are cheaply and liberall}'^ supplied by the well 

 selected public library of the neighbourhood. Books, 

 newspapers, kc. principally devoted to agricultural sub- 

 jects, should occupy an important share of his attention. 



If the farmer is advanced in life, he most probably has 

 children who will mould their future lives by his exam- 

 ple ; and he already tills a station which gives am})le 

 play for all the knowledge lie can place in store. He 

 i^ the member of a great and rising republic, whose con- 



