} 



27 



short." He subsequently acids : — " The study of na- 

 ture is not only the most delightful, but the most 

 elevating. This will be true in every station of life. 

 But how much more ought the poor man to prize this 

 study ! which, if prized and pursued as it ought, will 

 enable him to bear with patient resignation and cheer- 

 fulness, the lot by Providence assigned to him. 0, sir, 

 I pity the working man who possesses not a taste for 

 reading, which will enable him, while he participates 

 in intellectual enjojanent, to prize, as he ought, his 

 character as a man in every relative duty of hfe." 



I have thus spoken, not as I would, but as I could, 

 within the limits I have j)rescribed to myself in this 

 address, of the advantages of reading and intellectual 

 culture in a farming population. I have said that the 

 labor attended with the best results is intelligent labor, — 

 — that what may be called an agricultural literature 

 embodying scientific principles and their aj^plication, 

 facts and experiments, success and failure, — w^hat has 

 been attempted and what accomplished, will in different 

 ways be turned to account, guiding, aiding, stimulating, 

 inspiring courage and hope. I have spoken of educa- 

 tion and knowledge not only as dignifying labor, but 

 as promoting true manliness and elevation of char- 

 acter, — and lastly, of their influence in enhancing the 

 pleasures of a country life, teaching habits of observa- 

 tion and thought, which will render communion with 

 nature, in her daily processes and phenomena, a source 

 of ever varying and fresh delight. Much more might 

 be said, but I forbear. 



All honor to labor ! Honor to him who in patience 

 and a trusting spirit, performs his allotted work, and 

 improves in it, doing better to-day than he did yester- 

 day, finishing and perfecthig what is given him to do, 

 and above all, perfecting himself. To the fowls of the 



