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pecuniary results ? It answers in honest terms. Its 

 promises are less liberal than are made by most other 

 pursuits, but its performance is more to be relied 

 upon. It offers a comfortable support and it pays this 

 more generally than almost any other occupation. 



What is its repute, in the world ? How does it af- 

 fect one's standing in the community ? In what esti- 

 mation are farmers held ? Let us not be deceived 

 by appearances. The striped frock and cow-hide 

 boots are not often introduced into the parlors of the 

 refined, the fashionable, and the rich. The unpolish- 

 ed husbandman is not the chosen companion of the 

 refined merchant and professional man. And why 

 thus ? Not, I sincerely believe, because the better 

 portion of those who move in what are called the first 

 circles, regard the farmers as less deserving of honor 

 and esteem than themselves and their associates, but 

 because there is a want of similarity and coalescence 

 in the manners, habits, tastes and feelings of the two 

 classes. Those who are robed in costly apparel may 

 honor the laborer in his homely garb, and yet think, 

 and justly think, that it would contribute to neither 

 his enjoyment nor their own, to seat him at their ele- 

 gant tables or receive him at their social parties. 

 They know that this would be but cruel kindness ; 

 rude civility ; an attempt to mingle oil and water. 

 The pursuit is respected as highly as any other. Give 

 then, farmers of Essex, give contentment a perma- 

 nent home in your hearts. 



Destructive storms, withering drought, and killing 

 frosts will sometimes disappoint our hopes. But it is 

 wise to avoid the too common habit of over estima- 



