No. 4.] RURAL LIFE IN NEW ENGLAND. 13 



land, l)ot\veen the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Cliamplain, the 

 Canadian line and Long Island Sound, all the many advan- 

 tages of a rural life are best exemplified. 



To-day the farmer has come to realize that his calling is 

 an important and honorable one. He is happy ; he is con- 

 tented ; he is industrious ; he is tlirifty ; he is successful. 

 The advent of the free delivery, the telephone and all the 

 other modern methods of communication bring the inhab- 

 itants of our hills and valleys into closer touch with the great 

 outside world, and make it convenient and possible in the 

 Ijeauty of our home surroundings to enjoy the pleasures and 

 advantages, and even some of the luxuries, of the town and 

 city, without any of the attendant objectionable features. 

 Many a city resident would give much of his wealth for the 

 beautiful landscape view from many of our farmhouse win- 

 dows. In the city we see largely the handwork of man. 

 In the country the wisdom wrought by the Ruler of the Uni- 

 verse is made manifest in the mountains, hills, trees, lakes, 

 rivers, birds, and the little mountain brooks that wind their 

 way so beautifully among the rocks in their glad race to 

 meet the great river below. The troul)le with the "Man 

 with the Hoe " is, that he looks down, and never looks up. 



The New England farmer has health, happiness and suc- 

 cess by dignifjdng his labor, by stopping long enough from 

 his work to appreciate his wonderful surroundings and the 

 marvels of nature all about him. 



The dignity of labor on the farm is becoming more and 

 more manifest. It shows itself in the more frequent attempts 

 to beautify one's surroundings and in making the home life 

 more attractive. The farmer is coming to realize that it is 

 necessary for him, in order to insure success, to prepare 

 himself for the noble calling he has chosen. In the profes- 

 sions and other callings in life men spend much time and 

 effort to fit themselves for their life work. This is just as 

 necessary for the man on the farm who wants to make the 

 most of life. This preparation is made possible through the 

 agricultural college ; the work of the board of agriculture ; 

 and last, but by no means least, the systematic work of the 

 o-range. 



