State Convention—farm Life. 
239 
any other pursuit. There must be a thorough knowledge of all 
the various industries of the farm. It is business in its broadest 
sense, and must be followed with ceaseless energy and untiring in¬ 
dustry. Work must be the one accepted thing in the farmer’s 
creed. 
Never yet was anything good or great accomplished without 
work. The success that crowns the labor of years brings its re¬ 
ward, and when this is met the hardships through which it was 
won are all forgotten. Many were the faithful workers in the 
past who never gave over, but conquered every difficulty till the 
object for which they labored was reached, and to us and to future 
generations is left the results of their toil. Long did that patient' 
son of poverty, Elias Howe, contend with difficulties and priva¬ 
tions till at length the little bar of steel was made to do the work 
of five swift needle women. Through discouragement and fail¬ 
ures did Cyrus W. Field work on till two hemispheres were united 
by the little cable beneath the sea, and now two nations greet each 
other with the quickness of thought. Faithfully did the lamented' 
Agassiz labor to lift darkness from the science he loved. With 
no thought of wealth, with “ no time to make money ” he has left 
his discoveries to the world, a better legacy than gold. Farmers 
must expect there will be difficulties and hardships connected* 
with their occupation. If the industries of the farm are numer¬ 
ous there will be more of work and care, but if successful, there- 
will be more pleasures also, and like others, they too may leave 
lasting benefits behind them. 
Among those who have no wish to exchange the labors and 
pleasures of farm life for any other pursuit, there is sometimes 
too much said about the hard work, and the pay received. It is- 
not well to take a gloomy view of any condition. The sunny 
side is always the best. They who make most of the pleasures, 
say least of the hardships, and do most to remove them, are wisest 
and most successful in the end. 
The question of payment is one of much latitude. It pays the 
true farmer to see his wheat whitening for the harvest; his cattle - 
and sheep feeding in green pastures; his orchard loaded with 
ripening fruit, while bonds, and stocks, and bank notes, would' 
pay another man much better. 
