13 



The corn must be cultivated too, and weeded, and cared for, 

 stocks and merchandise may increase in value -without your labor, 

 the root of all evil may grow Avithout cultivation — no other root 

 but weeds only will — and whether that is not a very noxious and 

 dangerous weed, is a question about which there are many opin- 

 ions. This is but one illustration ; consider in how many forms 

 these lessons are repeated to you in your daily hfe ; consider of 

 how many prudent virtues they are the necessary foundation. 



Do they not teach you also that the same laws regulate your 

 social position, your moral being ? If you neglect your duties to 

 your neighbors, do you hope to have their esteem ? If your life is 

 a daily routine of dishonesty, do you expect to be in good repute ? 

 If your life is immoral and dissipated, does it not wear away your- 

 self, your name, your mind, and your moral nature ? 



Daily, almost hourly, even in the city, although repeated in 

 more doubtful and difficult language, do I see new proofs of that 

 other, but similar law — an opportunity never comes back again. 

 But in the country this is always before 3'ou. Does the seed-time 

 come back again ever ? Can you ever put off until to-morrow the 

 duty of to-day ? Were I to sum this all up in one word, there is 

 but one which I know comprehensive enough to embrace it all, 

 and that is indeed a word full of meaning — labor ! " Thou shalt 

 labor" is the commandment which life daily repeats to us. Every 

 man has his task set before him, and the duty of patient, thought- 

 ful labor is his blessing ; or, neglected, it becomes his bane. Let 

 us reason together upon this subject, and Ave shall find that there 

 is in all this the deepest cause for gratitude. It is an answer also 

 to those complaints of which I spoke — those grumbling complaints, 

 so unworthy of a true man. Plow often do you hear it said, how 

 often, too, do you repeat it, — " Oh ! my farm is poor, this New 

 England soil is barren, the West is the only place for farmers !" 

 or, " I am too poor to farm to advantage," or, " my education 

 was neglected. I cannot go ahead and better my condition, like 

 my neighbor so and so," — or worst of all, " I have no luck, every 

 thing has turned against me." All this is false, unspeakably 

 false. These arc not the lessons of living, grumJjle them houi'ly 

 if you will, sit sulking like a child in the corner, and let the 

 world go by you if you will ; but these are not true ; on the c<jn- 

 trary there is no New England farniei', \vlii» rellects, who really 



