p. 181 | The Farmer by J. Clarke

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 8, 1866

The Farmer.

By J. Clarke

EVERY avocation of life has its trials and its joys, its advantages and disadvantages, and the farmer of course comes in for his share of both.

It is not the object of this article to laud the business of agriculture, much as I love the same; but rather to present some of the disadvantages of a farmer; and being one myself, no one can be offended with me for so doing. And, brother ploughmen, be not bitter against me if I touch you upon a tender point, as you know I mean it for good; and when I leave out in my remarks the bright side of the picture, recollect it is not for any dislike I owe to the business of agriculture; but rather because I want to plough, myself, this afternoon, or else set out a little package of peach-trees I have just got home from the nursery. And as to this long preface, you see it is necessary in the case, as my remarks will prove.

The farmer being owner of his domain, and being sole commander and lord of his acres, gets to be, very often, quite independent. He has everything his own way of course, and if he has a noble and generous disposition, and is enlightened and intelligent, he is the best of men at home and abroad. His hired men and boys, and the inmates of his house, all pay him willing homage, which he knows how to receive with humility, and it does not hurt him. But I lament to say it is not so with most of farmers. Often they become cross and peevish to their teams—and to their men if they dare—and if breakfast is not ready just in time, they too often blame the poor woman, who perhaps had only green wood to cook it with; or perhaps if the household affairs are a little in disorder, they are gruff and sullen at the very ones whom they should comfort and please.

Now a mechanic, or a merchant, or lawyer, or physician, has a constant motive before him, to please his employer, or patron, or customer, or client, and by constant contact with mankind, learns the necessity of politeness and urbanity. In fact a gloomy, morose, ill-tempered mechanic, would soon get no custom. So with the arts, and trades, and professions,—all tend to civilize and polish. But the farmer looks too often with contempt upon the polite man, and will not stoop to "bow and scrape" as he calls it; and what is the consequence? Will you believe it, that more lunatics occupy the mad-house from farmer's families, than from any other class? If you doubt it, please read the documents published by the department of agriculture, of the United States for 1862.

Farmers' wives and daughters in the mad-house! So it is; figures show that the proportion of lunatics in asylums shames the farmer; his wife and daughters are too often his abject slaves; he has acted the tyrant all day with his team, flying into a terrible passion with the brutes, and no one near to shame him as he beats the poor animals, who do not understand his tactics. He comes home and kicks the dog and cat; and do you think his family much desire to see his face?

The farmer has this disadvantage; he generally associates with few except the inmates of his family, and if they are in fear of him, his case is indeed to be deplored. Let me not be misunderstood. I speak of the majority of farmers; boldly I speak without fear of contradiction. A few noble men form the minority; these redeem the department, but they speak for themselves. Let me speak of the little Neros of the farm; the tyrants who scold and furiously fret at the dependents upon their care; the woman who has carefully tended a family of children,—has cooked, and washed, and mended, and patiently toiled and suffered the will of her lord, becomes insane; he gets a bill, and, marries again, for her malady is incurable! Oh! the poignancy of such grief! And who can wonder if the daughters sink into the same grave of intellect?

But Mr. Farmer has his hundreds of acres; he manages not to be quite so gruff at the store, and in the market, and no one has the hardihood to really reproach such a man, and besides, it may be hereditary.

The farmer should not allow himself to be so absorbed in the little world around him. Let him study nature and nature's God; let him study mankind, in history, in philosophy, in the word of God; let the mind travel; let him read (if he can't study) astronomy and other sciences; and when he has read, let him ponder; but not become conceited and vain. Let him study the constitutions of those he associates with, and learn to forbear, to strengthen, to comfort, and to heal. Do not say, "Well, I have no time to read; no money for books or papers." No, begin with the most easy, familiar studies, and press on to perfection. Let the farmer study the character of Washington, and then that of Nero; and learn to contrast them; then let him love and imitate the noble Washington in his spirit, even if the sphere is less; his flocks and herds will soon find it out; but his family will find it out first.

I have written in haste, but in sincerity. I know whereof I affirm; the noble calling of agriculture is too often disgraced. Let us as a people, many of us farmers, each magnify his calling, and let it be no disgrace to the calling of agriculture that you and I are of that occupation.

J. CLARKE.