41 



" For Paradise is jot to come, and in the future )cars 

 With unimagined splendors crowned, the golden age appears." 



And thus, while with one hand the earnest cultivator 

 takes hold of the rough work of life, the other is lifted up 

 to heaven, and clasped with that of angels, and the ra- 

 diant holy spirits that have lived and wrought in all the 

 ages past, that still live and labor for humanity ; and in- 

 spired with high hope and joyful faith, the true farmer 

 feels that he is the humble helper of God in the sublime 

 work of advancing and perfecting the earth. 



And how serene and blessed a retreat is the farm to old 

 age. In the peaceful shadow of the trees, that, in his 

 glowing youth, he had planted with his own hand ; the 

 fertile acres stretching out before him, that he for so 

 many years has tilled, rests the patriarch farmer, gazing 

 at the declining sun, that gilds with lingering ray the 

 Paradise that with thought and care and labor, he had 

 formed to bless his peaceful old age. Perchance, as 

 around the brow of the venerable scholar, statesman and 

 farmer of Quincy,* the patriot wreath, won in his coun- 

 try's service, twines with the laurels of the academcian, 

 and the flowers still fresh with Castalian dews ! And, as 

 he gazes on the pleasant scene of cares and labors past, 

 his heart rises in grateful incense of joy to heaven, that 

 he has achieved through the Divine aid such worthy ends, 

 and has done something, by his life, towards improving, 

 beautifying and blessing the world. And even while he 

 gazes, dull grows his heavy ear to earthly sounds, his 

 mortal eyes are dimmed and glazed, and as they close in 

 pious faith upon the outward Paradise of his love, in pure 

 celestial radiance, the fairer Paradise of his hopes unfolds 

 its splendors to his quickened and immortal vision. And, 

 as in its genial air he expands in the fresh beauty of 



* Hon. Jobiah Quini y. Sen. 



