440 Wisconsin State agricultural soceity. 
the week previous to the Sabbath, appointed, Mr. Beecher invited 
his friend to go fishing with him. They went on that and each 
succeeding day until Saturday, when his friend remarked to him 
that his time was limited for preparation for his sermon, and was 
somewhat astonished when the great man said ; “ My sermon is 
ready.” • Beecher had fished, and at the same time had studied 
the works of the Great Creator until his mind was filled with fresh, 
vigorous, original thoughts, which fell from his lips on the follow¬ 
ing day like ‘‘manna’’from heaven, furnishing mental food, and 
elevating to a higher plane all who heard him. 
Such ideas as are given us by this class of minds are not coined, 
polished and made of force and value but by study, deep thought 
and constant application. There should be Beechers in agricul¬ 
ture as well as in theology, as such minds afford examples which 
stimulate others to do better, raise them to a higher plane, with 
better profits and more of the higher enjoyments of life. 
Farmers must bring to their aid the observations, experience 
and knowledge of the best minds in the country—must learn from 
those who theorize and those who practice ; from the worker and 
the talker. The lawyer and physician are not content when they 
receive their diplomas and start into the practice of their respec¬ 
tive professions. They feel that they have just begun to learn. 
The former reads up carefully all the best authors upon the theory 
and practice of his profession, examines critically the decisions of 
courts, and if new cases arise involving nice, fine points of law, 
he watches the arguments of counsel and the decisions of the 
court with eagerness, hoping to store his mind with some hereto¬ 
fore hidden truth in his profession. The latter notes with care 
every new case which arises in his profession ; reads and thor¬ 
oughly digests many of the medical and surgical journals of this 
and foreign countries, that not an important discovery shall be 
made and escape his knowledge. 
Farmers must understand that the world moves, and unless 
they are willing to fall to the rear and be unnoticed and quickly 
forgotten, they must be up and doing. It takes a good deal of 
square, hard work to carry on the varied activities of the world ; 
and, depend upon it, somebody is going to push them forward. 
