17 



Then we come back to our first statement, that the man is 

 more than his accidents, even in farming ; and although 



" It may not be our lot to wield 

 The sickle in the ripened field, 

 Nor ours to hear on summer eves 

 The reaper's song among the sheaves ; 

 Yet, when our duty's task is wrought 

 In unison with God's great thought. 

 The past and future blend in one, 

 And whatsoe'er is willed is done." 



And now, Mr. President and members of the Essex Agri- 

 cultural Society, thanking you for the courtesy of your invi- 

 tation to address you at this time, and for the attention you 

 have given to my feeble utterances, you will allow me to ex- 

 press the hope that at some future time we may be permitted 

 to listen to a description, not of the successful farmer, but of 

 the next most important character on the farm, (or in the 

 house,) the successful farmer's wife. 



