1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



41 



ing sheep, without labor. I yesterday saw a 

 farmer Avho had made $9000 in lour years from 

 a dock of a few hundred ; and at the same time 

 I fiml numbers who have lost as much in as 

 man>- years, because they ha^e not given their 

 flocks the needed care. The scab and the 

 screw worm are the great enemies of the wool- 

 grower in this coimtry, and they must be fought 

 with a watchful and tireless energy, or they 

 will soon be the victors. 



Among the most successful men whom I 

 have met, are H.J. Chamberlain and Brother, 

 of Bell County, who Avere born and reared 

 under the shadow of "old Ascutney," in Ver- 

 mont. Mr. Chamberlain came to this country 

 in 1860, bringing with him some fine stock from 

 Vermont, his native (State. Lie improved the 

 stock he brought out with him, and used it in 

 crossing upon the best Hocks he could find 

 hci'c, until he now grazes about four thousand 

 head. Such has been his success in breeding, 

 that by general consent his Hock stands at the 

 head of all in central Texas, il not in the State. 

 His ranch contains about twenty-one thousand 

 ac7-es, well watered, and is capable of feeding, 

 summer and Avinter, 40,000 head of sheep. 



There are aljundant opportunities lor }oung 

 men to secure places as herdsmen, and thus 

 learn the details of the business as it must he 

 carried on here, and in a few years, with only 

 a little capital, and a good supply ol' pluck, 

 they Avould find themselves owners of good 

 flocks. I Avould, however, advise no man to 

 come here unless he feels himself able to en- 

 dure the hardships and privations of a ncAv 

 country. 



I am satisfied that when the Avool-growers of 

 Texas will give their flocks the necessary care, 

 they can compete Avith any section of the Avorld 

 in producing avooI. 



The Aveather here during the present season 

 has been hke the long Indian Summer days 

 with us in the North, minus the smoky haze 

 that always attends that season in Ncav Eng- 

 land. 



The farmers have made a good crop of com 

 the past season, but only a medium amount of 

 cotton Avill be secured. INlany acres of cotton 

 will be entirely lost for the want of hands to 

 pick it. On account of the heavy rains the 

 past season, the "chills" have prevailed exten- 

 sivel}' through this country, where they have 

 never been knoAA'n before. The blacks are 

 great sufferers from this disease. 1 visited a 

 plantation last Aveek Avhere twenty hands are 

 employed, and only two are able to Avork. 

 Add to this the natural disinclination of the 

 blacks to Avork unless by compulsion, and you 

 can in a measure understand the difficulties 

 under AA'hich the planter must labor. 



The people generally in this State seem to 

 accept the "situation" AAith cheerfulness and 

 courage, and are hopeful for the future. In 

 fact, their sufferings under the Confederacy 

 had prepared them to accept any situation, and 

 to be thankful for any condition the United 



States government might impose, as they well 

 knew the change coidd not possibly be lor the 

 Avorse. There is but little money in the coun- 

 try, and that gold and silver. I have not seen 

 a^ "greenback" since I left the tide Avater. 

 Tavo or three years of prosperity will put Tex- 

 as all right again, and enable her to take her 

 place among the leading agricultural States of 

 the countrv. h r 



THOUGHTS FOR THE FIRST OF JAN- 

 UARY. 



E'en Winter has its charms. Hoav pure the gloAV, 

 That decks the pensive broAv of evening's queen I 

 The spotless hills, adorned in robes of snow, 

 Ascend in light and loveliness serene. 

 Far in the tranquil distance may be seen 

 The hoary forests and the mountain pile. 

 Shut to the door I The outer air is keen ; 

 And 'neath the cottage roof repose awhile, 

 Where, round its joyous hearth, the happy inmates smile. 



T. C. Upham. 



Jakuary 1, 1867. — In ancient Rome there 

 Avas a temple, called the Temjjle of Janus, 

 where festivals Avere held on this day, each 

 year. Janus Avas an old Italian deity, the god 

 of the sun and the year. Our Avord January, 

 was derived from his name. The Romans 

 were great observers of the custom of New 

 Year's presents, and the first day of January 

 was the time when they were mostly made. 

 The English nobility Avere long in the practice 

 of sending the king a purse Avith gold in it, on 

 New Year's day, and so the custom has been 

 passed along to us by our English ancestry. 



These reciprocal greetings of esteem or af- 

 fection, and presentations of tokens of regard, 

 have a purifying influence upon the mind. 

 Reason may be joined to custom to justify 

 the practice. We rejoice Avith our friends, af- 

 ter having escaped the dangers that attend ev- 

 ery year ; and congratulate each other for the 

 future, by presents and Avishcs for the happy 

 continuance of that course. The very wishing 

 our Inends A Happy New Year, Avill .help us 

 to make it so to them. If we, unfortunately, 

 forget that charity towards them, which "bear- 

 eth all things," our New Year's wishes come 

 back to us and solten or expel our prejudice, 

 and we repeat the wish again as heartily as ev- 

 er and croAvn it Avith corresponding acts. Thus, 

 forbearance, charity and love are often the 

 groAvth of our Avishes for a happy new year to 

 others. 



January is the portal of the year. How 

 we shall enter it, and live in it, is matter of no 

 small consideration. If we form no resolutions 



