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ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN S ASSOCIATION. 



FARMING, ETC. 



BY MRS. J. C. LAMBERT, OP BELVIDERE, ILL. 



As it is so, the powers that be, 



Have given thus this task to me, 



"lis with misgivings not a few, 



Before this honored body, too, 



That I approach my chosen theme, 



Which may to some quite humble seem, 



Yet when a backward glance is thrown 



O'er history's page, from zone to zone, 



There Agriculture leads the van, 



A power in civilizing man. 



And where her standard is most high, 



There people surely will outvie, 



As farming ever underlies 



All other business, and the prize, 



Unless she prospers, is not won 



By any class beneath the sun. 



For all must have their daily bread, 



Forego all other things instead, 



And none could rise to high estate, 



With struggle for existence great. 



'Tis useless then the steps to trace, 



The progress of the human race, 



Its rude attempts, its advance slow, 



Up to the present, which can show 



Such grand achievements, all combine 



To lighten labor and refine. 



Our nation undisputed stands 



Herself the peer of other lands, 



And also does our Prairie State 



Second to none, all grandly rate, 



With acres broad and fertile fields, 



Whose wealth so gracefully she yields, 



And o'er her wide domain doth roam 



The fine sleek stock, which finds a home 



In buildings which much better are 



Than our forefathers' dwellings were, 



While they, for all this thoughtful care, 



Will profit to their owners bear, 



In many ways, which once was lost, 



E'er brains prevailed and counted cost. 



For all have found that working hands, 



Which trained intelligence commands, 



Will ever bear away the crown 



From those without, which must go down. 



The thoughtful farmer in his course, 



Has found the dairy quite a source 



Of profit, and some think it pays 



Better than farming other ways. 



It surely has advantage great ; 



The farmer has not long to wait 



For his returns, while o'er and o'er 



The money used may make still more. 



It not detracting from the land 



Much substance to it does remand. 



Then, from a moral point of view, 



It steady habits teaches too. 



As men at night must be at home, 



When time for milking shall have come, 



For 'tis a task which must be done 



At rising and at set of sun. 



Some one much wiser far "than me" 



In dairy lore, has said that we 



Should e'er to cows as ladies speak, 



In accents gentle, mild and meek, 



And for the sweet lacteal flow, 



The milk of human kindness show, 



While they these compliments repay 



In rich returns, from day to day. 



If this is so, and practiced, then, 



How much refined will grow the men. 



The factory great relief does bring 



To farmers' wives, in lessening 



Their work, thus giving them more time 



For recreation, books and rhyme. 



The honest farmer, who has been 



Proverbially thought quite free from sin, 



They say of late is up to tricks, 



As water with the milk he'll mix. 



And some are known, tho' strange it seem, 



To send the milk and keep the cream. 



And when the dividends appear 



Are wont to say, "they think it queer 



That they should be so very small, 



This business does not pay at all. 



If things are run on such a scale, 



The factory must surely fail." 



And so it may ; for water ne'er 



Will butter make, or skim-milk e'er 



In dollars and in cents repay, 



Like milk that's pure in every way. 



Now I much rather would refrain 



From speaking of this well-known bane. 



A farmer's daughter, a farmer's wife, 



I prize their honor as very life ; 



But evils ne'er can be reformed, 



Unless their citadel is stormed, 



Thus bringing into disrepute, 



All things, which virtue would uproot. 



And when good people all uphold 



That honest milk, both bought and sold, 



Is of the Christian virtues one, 



The millennial then will have begun. 



Now I would have none understand, 



That from the farmers of this land, 



I'll aught detract, or think that they 



Are not as good in every way, 



As any class, for you will find 



They'll average well with all mankind. 



Their homes much of refinement show, 



As 'cross the threshold come and. go 



Their manly sons and daughters fair, 



Who in life's battle nobly bear 



Their burdens, and oft occupy, 



Our nation o'er, positions high. 



For they the lesson well have learned, 



That all worth aught in life is earned 



By labor, it the magic key 



To all earth's treasures sure must be. 



Tho' weary we may often grow, 



And think we reap not all we sow, 



The golden harvest ever stands, 



For ready hearts and willing hands. 



As those before for us have sown, 



Let us not work for selves alone. 



Adown the years that's yet to be, 



Good seed we sow, may many see, 



Springing where it hath taken root, 



Bearing abundance of good fruit. 



Music — Apollo Club. 

 Song— H. C. Boutwell. 



