31 



safer than a well-advised investment in a farm ; since the 

 intrinsic value of the land is subject to none of the 

 mutations v^^hich affect almost every other form of invest- 

 ment, in the midst of those political and financial crises 

 which sweep over our land like successive tornadoes. 



Again, it is worthy of notice that all the returns re- 

 ceived from an outlay of capital, are not in the form of 

 money. An expenditure made in one direction may re- 

 sult in honor and influence — as when an aspirant for 

 public favor contributes to an electioneering fund. — 

 Made in another direction, the return may be in the form 

 of personal enjoyment — the gratification of taste in the 

 appearance of a splendid equipage, or in works of art, 

 as paintings and sculptures, or architecture. But why 

 should not the pleasure afibrded by the appearance of 

 flocks and herds of fine animals ; by the sight of grassy 

 meadows and growing crops ; waving harvests and flour- 

 ishing orchards and purple vineyards ; why should not 

 the enjoyment which these things always afford to the 

 lover of nature, be regarded as an important item in 

 reckoning with the fiirm ? I think myself not entirely a 

 stranger to the fascination there is for certain minds in 

 works of art. I am not wanting in those impressions 

 which the artist seeks to awaken, when with a master's 

 hand, he rounds the marble into magic forms of life, or 

 makes the canvas glow with the varied features of the 

 landscape ; but were I possessor of a well-situated and 

 well cultivated farm, I know that from the contemplation 

 of its changing aspects — the swale and swell of mead- 

 ows green, the waving luxuriance of cultivated fields, 

 the thrift of trees and vines, bowing and swaying under 

 their burdens of purple and gold ; and the show of ani- 

 mals, (sheep, cattle, and horses), browsing on the pas^ 



