No. 4.] THE FARMER'S OPPORTUNITY. 245 



able to do this than are the farmers themselves. Now, the 

 farmers are not such iirnoramuses as these people would have 

 us believe. Let us hope that these efforts to put themselves 

 in the front and the farmers in the rear will not prevail. 



The ftirmer has the best opportunit}^ to look on the bright 

 side of things. He is never troubled for want of work, for 

 on a farm there is never a lack for something to do, no neces- 

 sity for standing around idle. The crops are always working 

 in their season. If the farmer takes a holiday now and then, 

 judiciously selecting the time, nature will keep at work, the 

 crops continue to grow, the cattle to feed, and the income 

 will not stop. What if sometimes some crops seem to have 

 failed ; they have not all failed. There are yet bright spots, 

 if we Avill but look for them ; some silver lining to every 

 cloud, and if we will but look up, it will show itself to our 

 vision. 



It is Whittier, I think, who says in one of his poems : — 



" Once more the liberal year laughs out, 

 O'er richer stores than gems of gold ; 

 Once more with harvest song and shout, 

 Is Nature's bloodless triumph told. 



" Our common mother sits and sings, 



Like Ruth among her garnished sheaves ; 

 Her lap is full of goodly things, 



Her brow is bright with autumn leaves. 



" O favors every year made new, 



O gifts with rain and sunshine sent ; 

 The bounty overruns our due. 

 The fulness shames our discontent. 



" We shut our eyes, the flowers bloom on ; 

 We murmur, but the corn ears fill ; 

 We seek the shadow, but the sun 

 That cast it shines behind us still." 



The farmer should look on the bright side of life. He 

 should not be discouraged at a partial failure now and then, 

 for it may be brighter the next year. The return may be 

 slow, but it will be sure to come some time. Do not be in 

 a hurry to change your business or your location. A well- 

 kept home diminishes a desire for a change, for we are apt 

 to love that upon which we bestowed much care, and are 



