State Convention—Better Education, Etc. 161 
then ship it direct to some merchant with whom I am acquaint¬ 
ed, or could readily become so; that had to draw his supplies from 
New York or Boston, and also would be willing to pay a fair price 
for a first-class article. I could if necessary sell to him a little low¬ 
er than he would have to pay for an 'article of the same grade, ei¬ 
ther in New York or Boston, and yet save to myself three or four 
commissions. In short, I should try and do just as I am now do¬ 
ing, sell as near the consumer as possible. 
Gentlemen, these things are worth thinking over. Nay, more; 
they are worthy your best thought and attention. It is one of 
the branches of education, where it seems to me, that many farm¬ 
ers are sadly deficient, and where a better knowledge of their bus¬ 
iness would add millions of dollars every year to the net income of 
the farmers of this State. 
There are other points upon which I would like to have touched, 
but time forbids and I will hasten to a close. 
Gentlemen, our vocation as cultivators of the soil is the noblest 
and the grandest one that God ever gave to man. Having had the 
advantage of a good early education, having been a constant reader 
of the world’s history, of the varied successes and failures of differ¬ 
ent departments of industries, I say to you to-day, that if I was 
again a young man with my present knowledge and experience in 
life; I know of no industry; no profession in life into which I could 
enter with such earnest zeal, and such warm-hearted enthusiasm, as 
into the cultivation of the soil. I know of none where there is so 
fair an opening for earnest, intelligent, enterprising, and persever¬ 
ing young men. I know of none that I would prefer for my own sons 
to enter and compete for success in life’s battle. Do you ask how 
shall you keep your sons npon the farm? Make home pleasant. 
Make it to them and their friends the best spot upon God’s round 
world. Fill your home with books, with papers, with music; your 
yard with flowers, your garden with limits, and your lawn with 
shade-trees. Do you say that you are poor and can not possibly 
afford it? Gentlemen, I know that road; wife and myself have trav¬ 
eled it together, side by side, and know it all. We spent money for 
music, for books, for flowers, when it was impossible for us to furn¬ 
ish either ourselves or our little ones with more than very plain 
food and clothing, and yet, I think to-day, they were about the best 
investments that we ever made. 
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