66 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Feb. 
knowledge, so as thereby to become more nearly 
adequate to the demands that the business naturally 
makes upon them, we may produce results, of which 
a state of arrogant ignorance never dreamed, nor 
was ever capable. Thus we see, that when we have 
given the farmer a taste for the acquisition of know¬ 
ledge, we have made him a better bequest than mo¬ 
ney; for we have given him the habit of thinking, 
and that is the principle of all legitimate prosperity. 
It enables him at once to act and operate, to com¬ 
pare, contrive, invent, improve, and perfect,—to ac¬ 
complish his ends in higher and still higher degrees. 
Then, too, the business of the farmer largely ad¬ 
mits of, nay, in our view, it demands, observation 
and thought. While engaged in the health-giving 
labors of the field, breathing the invigorating air, 
and conversant with the principles and beauties of 
nature around him, he may pursue habits of thought 
to an extent, and with an elasticity and vigor of 
mind, which the student of the closet, struggling 
with an attenuated frame, trembling nerves, and a 
throbbing head, often sighs for in vain. We farm¬ 
ers who have not yet felt the importance of cultiva¬ 
ting and using the thinking faculty to some valuable 
purpose, may with propriety receive and ponder the 
address of a profound thinker: 
“ My friend, to have thought far too little, we 
shall find among the capital faults in the review of 
life. To have in our nature a noble part that can 
think, would be a cause for infinite exultation, if it 
actually did think as much and as well as it can 
think, and if to have an unthinking mind were not 
equivalent to having no mind at all. The mind 
might, and it should be, kept in a state of ha¬ 
bitual exertion, that would save us from needing to 
appeal for proof of its existence to some occasion 
yesterday when we did think or to-morrow when we 
shall. If all the short spaces of time in which we 
have strongly exerted our faculties could be ascer¬ 
tained, and reckoned together into one place, what 
a small part of life it would fill ! The space, how¬ 
ever, may be deemed the total of real life.”* 
Knowledge refines the taste, thus enabling us to 
perceive and enjoy the beauties and sublimities of 
nature. A state of ignorance cannot be favorable 
to the emotions of taste. Neither do we look for 
its exercise in the mere getter or hoarder of money, 
the man of loose morals, or dissolute habits. Re¬ 
fined taste is intimately allied to morals, for it na¬ 
turally elevates the mind and ennobles the charac¬ 
ter of its possessor; and thus it is that knowledge, 
by refining the taste, indirectly favors virtue. Who, 
if not the farmer, should possess and enjoy a refined 
taste? The great Author of all has adorned his 
works with beauties and sublimities, that may ex¬ 
cite the highest and purest emotions of which tVs 
human mind is susceptible. They solicit the senses 
of the farmer at every turn. The endless variety 
and beauty of flower, plant and shrub; the various 
stages of vegetation, from the germination to the 
full maturity of his crops; the majestic forest; the 
landscape of mountain and valley, of lake and river ; 
the circling seasons ; the wondrous workings of na¬ 
ture beneath his feet, as well as the sublime ‘ han¬ 
dy work 5 above him:—these all invite the husband¬ 
man to observation, and gently persuade, or more 
powerfully urge him to contemplate, through them, 
the great Author and Ruler of all. 
Knowledge, both in acquisition and possession, 
contributes to happiness. The farmer has many lei¬ 
sure hours, during the stormy days of a season when 
he cannot work, and the long evenings of winter. 
* Correspondence of John Foster. 
. 
These, if he has a taste for reading, he may beguile 
in an innocent, useful and happy way at home;, 
wffiile others, dependant upon foreign resources, re¬ 
pair to places of public amusement or dissipation, 
seeking an object that constantly eludes their grasp, 
or, if momentarily detained, usually turns to emp¬ 
tiness or pain. There is no pastime that in variety 
compares with the pursuit of knowledge. While 
the objects of inquiry are endless in number, each 
attainment is attended with new satisfaction and 
delight. A taste for literature or scientific inquiry 
once acquired, usually becomes confirmed into a 
habit for life, and forms an unfailing source of plea¬ 
sure in old age. The growing infirmities incident 
to that period of life, bring many days of confine¬ 
ment and weariness, which maybe greatly relieved 
by reading, or, if that be impracticable, by hearing 
others read. This arises naturally aud necessarily 
from the very structure of the intellectual element.. 
11 A degree of surprise and astonishment which 
cannot consist with the perfect comprehension of 
whatever falls under our cognizance, appears to be 
one ingredient, in the highest degree of felicity of 
which a rational being is susceptible. There is a 
principle in the constitution of our nature, which 
renders us dissatisfied w T ith what we thoroughly un¬ 
derstand in all its parts. When there is nothing 
more to be discovered, from that moment it begins- 
to pall upon us, and we must pass to something 
vdiich will give scope to the activities of the human 
mind.”* 
There is no amusement so cheap as that arising 
from the pursuit of knowledge. A trifling sum set 
apart annually, will purchase the advantages afford¬ 
ed by our numerous district, village, and other li¬ 
braries, and our able agricultural, scientific and li¬ 
terary periodicals. 
There are no circumstances so adverse as to pre¬ 
clude our attaining knowledge, if we resolutely 
strive for it. One is forcibly struck with the truth 
of this remark, in thinking over the long list of 
worthies who, under every disadvantage, and in ad¬ 
dition to carrying forward some practical calling,, 
have raised themselves to eminence in the empire of 
knowledge. In them, we find realized that most, 
desirable, but quite too rare union, of studious hab¬ 
its with a practical business. Their example is- 
most valuable too, as illustrating the fact that a 
taste for knowledge will, of itself, do a great deal 
towards its acquisition; and that where this taster 
exists, it usually surmounts all difficulties and bursts 
all barriers. Be it further remembered for our en¬ 
couragement, that the kind of knowledge which, 
gives strength does not so much depend upon the 
reading of many books, as upon the judicious selec¬ 
tion and careful reading of a few, accompanied by 
the strenuous exertions of our own powers of re¬ 
flection. In this w'ay, all our powers become sti¬ 
mulated, and products begin to grow from within. 
Knowledge is useful and important to man as 
a religious being. It is true that Christianity in¬ 
vites us all to partake of its blessings, upon compli¬ 
ance with its terras, whether we be learned or ig¬ 
norant. But it addresses the understanding as well 
as the heart; its evidences challenge investigation ;; 
its hopes are addressed to the immortal element; its 
sublime faith calls forth the whole intellectual pow¬ 
er ; and the doctrine of immortality invests the 
mind of man with a dignity and grandeur, allied to 
a purer and nobler state of intelligence. In what¬ 
ever other respects, then, we might conclude to dis¬ 
pense with the advantages of education and know- 
* Robert Hall. 
