18 



Avill siiy how he has hoped to have, one day, aonie (juiet .s[)ot 

 where the evening of life could glide tranquilly on amidst 

 the repose and beauty of nature ; hoAv he has longed to live 

 again among the holy things of his early days, which have 

 had an influence on the better part of his life. He will tell 

 how his sleep has been tinged with recollections of the past, 

 dreaming over his boy-time once more ; hearing the song of 

 birds, as it used to come in the twilight through the windows, 

 mingled Avith the breath of the honeysuckle, and feeling 

 again the south wind play in the raven locks of his child- 

 hood."* 



These truthful words, — 



"They haunt ine still, thouii'h many :i year has fled. 

 Like some wild melody ; "' 



and will, so long as my memory shall hold its throne. And 

 I am happy in the thought that the spotless mantle of this 

 most estimable man has fallen upon a son who is worthy to 

 bear it. 



Had the principles of agricultural reform and improve- 

 ments been as well understood as the principles which gov- 

 ern our mercantile interests, and been as well applied, our 

 New England farms would not present the barren spectacle 

 Avhicli in some instances Ave noAv behold. You cannot vio- 

 late the laAvs of the soil any more than you can the laAvs 

 which govern your physical system. Similar hiAvs govern 

 both. Nature will supply the demands of growth according to 

 her resources ; and A^d^en exhausted, must receive back the 

 elements of Avhich she has been robbed, or she refuses longer 

 to yield her Avonted harvest. Science enjoins upon agricul- 

 ture the condition of a self-sustaining vitality. Whatever is 

 taken from the soil by the harvest must be returned to it 

 again ; otherwise a great injury is inflicted, not only upon 



* The late lion. Georire 11. Russell. 



