51 



I longed Avith ea^^cr eyes to sec 

 The iVuits of Norl'olk indiistiy, 

 Where science, iirt, and taste combine 

 To prune the orchard, train the vine ; — 

 Where Nature marshals all her forces. 

 And brings forth fi-om her vast resources 

 The richest products of the soil, 

 To crown intelligence and toil. 



I longed to share this day, at least, 



The pleasni-e of this rural feast. 



To mingle with your husbandmen. 



Whose products crown the hall and pen: 



To see what crops j'our fields turn out 



In spite of long continued drought ; 



To see what butter, cheese, or bread, 



Your wives and dairj' girls have made ; 



To see your apples, pears, and peaches, 



Your grapes and flowers — and — hear the speeches 



Of meji who for their rural knowledge 



Deserve a Doctorate from college. 



Not in vain has the t3'pe of the Ploughman told 

 Some wonderful things of the land of gold ; 

 'Tis well that the sights of the men who have trod 

 The fields of the West should be Noyes'd abroad ; 

 And the eloquent speaker who just sat dov.'u. 

 Whose speech of this day is the joy and crown. 

 Has given us sketches which clcarl}- evince 

 The hu&bahdman's taste in the mercantile prince, 

 He, to, sii-, has given the world the straAvberry, 

 Called President Wilder, magnificent, very. 



But, sir, what mighty changes 



Have o'er this planet passed ! 

 As backward to the birth of time 



The mental eye is cast. 



When erst the art of Farming 



And Gardening began, 

 No County Fairs were wont to cheer 



The toiling husbandman. 



Xo sketch of Western travel, 



No bard of rural lay, 

 Gave entertainment at a feast 



Like this you spread to-day. 



