No. 4.] FAEMING AS AN OCCUPATION. 335 



been in some other occupation ; there is no chance to obtain 

 anything but a bare living, and you will have to work hard 

 for that." It may seem an exaggeration, but I have heard 

 farmers speak as discouragingly of their own occupation. 

 These are some of the adverse conditions of farming, but I 

 am fully persuaded that much more can be said in favor of 

 this occupation than has been said against it. It is abso- 

 lutely necessary for the maintenance of the republic, not 

 chiefly in its productions, which all must consume, but in the 

 men and women who constitute that middle class which is 

 the strength of any nation, but most of all of a republic. 



" What constitutes a State ? 

 Not high-raised battlements and labored mound, 



Thick wall or moated gate ; 

 Not cities proud, with sj^ires and turrets crowned ; 



Not bays and broad-armed jiorts, 

 "Where, laughing at the storm, proud navies ride ; 



Not starred and spangled courts, 

 Where low-browed baseness waits perfumes to pride : 



No! men, high-minded men, — 



Men who their duties know. 

 But know their rights, and, knowing, dare maintain, 



Prevent the long-aimed blow, 

 And crush the tyrant while they rend the chain, — 



These constitute a State." 



A farmer cannot become a millionaire in his business ; but 

 great wealth in the hands of a few, we all know, is a stand- 

 ing menace to free institutions. Also out of the extreme 

 poverty of the masses are bred evil forces, which, if not held 

 in check by the strong arm of the law, will destroy aU forms 

 of government. These thoughts are best expressed in the 

 oft-quoted words of Goldsmith : — 



" 111 fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, 

 \\'here wealth accumulates, and men decay." 



"We hear sometimes about the poverty of the New England 

 farmer, but where is it located ? What community of farmers 

 has appealed to the authorities to start public works that 

 they may have employment? How many rural neighbor- 

 hoods are calling for the establishment of soup houses where 

 their starving poor may be fed? "We have had two years of 



