retained a love for the attractions which the farm afforded 

 them in their youth. 



My love and esteem for tlie business of farming, dates 

 back to my earlier school days, when I chose as a tlieme 

 for a composition, "The Life of a Farmer." I well re- 

 member that my fancy then induced me to eulogize the 

 calling, and my principal point then was, that the perplex- 

 ities which ever assailed those engaged in professional or 

 mercantile pursuits and the embarassments occasioned in col- 

 lecting their bills, were affairs that gave the farmer but little 

 concern, and were ample reason why the tilling of the soil 

 was preferable to many other vocations. I may say that on 

 more mature reflection and some experience, I under esti- 

 mated the farmer's perplexities and others' incomes, and 

 over-estimated others' perplexities and the farmer's income. 

 Nevertheless we should bear in mind, that it is owing to a 

 lack of the faculty of appreciation, that so many are dis* 

 satisfied with their surroundings and privileges. 



To fully appreciate any improvement, one must have 

 been " schooled'' to battle with some disappointments, and 

 by their own exertions extricate themselves in case of 

 emergencies. My experience and observations attest, that 

 to fully appreciate a level tranquility, we must have a test 

 in climbing adverse paths, and to estimate the result of 

 others' endeavors, we must by actual experience, acquire a 

 knowledge of its worth to justly criticise its merits. 



There is no occupation among men which furnishes a 

 wider scope for ol)Scrvation of the complicated workings of 

 nature, nor a more trying ordeal to test the endurance of 

 man's nerve to overcome obstacles of a reverse tendency, 

 than is experienced in farming. Yet withal : 



