SEPTEMBER-1851 & 1852-Farmer's Calendar Excerpts

#48

Farmer with sheaves of grain.

-1851-

Rise early. Stir your stumps. Brush, with hasty steps, the dews away at peep of dawn, my lively lads—who are skillful and expert at handling the arms of husbandry, not of war-murders; health and competence should be, and are the watchwords of all our stripling yeomen of hearty young Maine—not filthy lucre, and slothful ease and loaferism. Man must toil and suffer—it is right and best—but he may and can also enjoy and rejoice. Call up the dear lassie milkmaids to their kinely duties. The sweet breath of morn will bless their humble hearts with an overflow of joy that fashion’s painted puppets never knew—You cannot sow your winter rye too early in this month. Do not throw the feed corn of your hogs on the bare ground—it is too wasteful. While fattening swine, let them take charcoal.

[Thomas’s Farmer's Almanac]

-1852-

Farmer, there is a voice that comes from your fields, and says, “The year shall crown thee with its blessings, oh world, whose happiness is my work. I have called forth the spring; the harvest is the work of my power; the fields which support thee, and the little hills covered with corn, are mine.” Now, my worthy friend, as you move along through your rich meadows, and witness these abounding blessings, these thousand delicious fruits, these comforts afforded you by kind Providence, say, does no grateful feeling arise in your heart? And do you not wake into joyful thanksgivings? O, if not, you are a moping plodder, a cold and cheerless husbandman! Away, away from the fields, and come not near them, until you can do it with a cheerful, thankful heart—grateful for blessings enjoyed.

[Thomas’s Farmer's Almanac]

-1852-

The credit system is a sort of snare that poverty and pride set up to get away the people’s hard earnings.

[Maine Farmer's Almanac]

A "dear lassie milkmaid"

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