ON THE LAND.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4944, 26 February 1926, Page 4

ON THE LAND.

toil, trouble, worry.

TO THOSE THINKING OF LEAVING.

Toil,, trouble, worry, false tastes, work incessant —the battle for wealth never saisfied, never ending. The gratification of one desire only creating another. The great city is the maelstrom, which Stucks in life, strength, health, nerves; brain, aaid money. The constant battle with each other ; the bickerings, the plannings, the scheming, ,the jealousies, the desire to achieve fame and fortune ; the laying down of this burden at night and taking it up in the morning. Work, only work, to gain what ? Nothing but our board and clothes and a few unsatisfying pleasured To be admired, spoken of ; to cut a figure in some direction; ,to be loved or feared or envied by others'. Burn the candle at both ends,; destroy your nerves ; weaken your body ; turn night into day; play the villain, the hero, the saint, or the hypocrite as .the occasion requires, for 1 what to get ? A little fame or notoriety, which is unsubstantial, fleeting, and useless. Then your bones are laid in the ground, and by the next setting you are forgotten.

Is the game worth the powder? The bone, sinew, and brain of the country flee to the city to try their strengh in the unnatural and unnecessaryy sruggle for. fame and fortune. For this the woods, the fields, and the water are deserted. The beauties of nature and communion with nature’s God are forsaken. The birds, the beasts, the growing things, the running water, the quiet home are not longer comforts,; they have lost .their attraction for fashion, and furore, and folly. ' The cut of your coat becomes more important than the purity of your thoughts. “What will somebody say ?” is' of more consequence than “What ought I to. do ?”

After the battle is fought, what have you gained ? Perhaps) a little money for others to quarrel over. All the rest is vanity, only vanity and vexation of spirit.

The nearer you keep to mother earth, the nearer-you are ,to God a,nd true happiness,. The study of nature and nature’s works is the) most satisfying and the greatest- isource- of true happiness, with prospects before you of lake and rivei 1 , woods and cultivated fields, books, and a, few choice friends. When you have saved enough to live on frugally you may rest from your labours, except enough -to keep you in good health, mind, and muscleWith your horses, cattle and sheep, pigs, ducks, geesfe, chickens; pigeons, turkeys, and dogs, your boat, fishing, rod and gun, you have achieved true happiness, for you are contented, free from strife, contention, and discord, and the most independent man in a,H the world. You are at peace with God and man. You have fought a good fight, and wiith a clear conscience and hopeful spirit you are ready to meet your .Maker.' Youi’ friends will remember you and miss you. You have, without design, achieved fame and fortune in your little world, and the community will say: “There is a useful, kind-hearted man gone -to his reward.” Who shall, say that such a man has not achieved all there is worth getting in this world, or that he has lived in vain ? Such is human life. Which is the best way to live ?—Robert E. Fraser.