driven from home, and into other walks of life, simply by the injustice of those that love him better than can be told, and whose last hours would be crowned with gladness if blessed with his presence. I will not admit that a child is selfish because he recognizes the right of property. Why should he not practice early in life, what he will surely claim later, and learn generosity with his own, for it is hardly generosity to give what belongs to another.

And the matter of compensation. I will pause a moment if I am a surprise to any when I mention compensation in connection with the labor rendered us by our own boys. I acknowledge that a large share of mankind eat their bread in idleness; but it is not farmers or their families. That "children cost more than they come to," is often sounded in our ears; but it is an argument so weak that I will not give it a moment's thought. If one receive labor at the hands of a stranger, be it ever so unsatisfactorily rendered, we expect to pay for it. Yet how many a farmer's boy works early and late, bearing with him the cares and responsibilities of half the farm, for his is interested labor, and receives in return. three or four months schooling in the winter (during which time he does the chores, cuts the wood and stays at home an occasional day to help father draw hay), his clothing (which is none the best), and a few shillings (reluctantly given). Perhaps during the summer he attends 4th of July, and a circus, and during the year a few sabbaths see him at church. On his occasional trips into town he sees boys of his own age, well dressed, passing to and from school, or carelessly enjoying life. If he troubles himself to inquire, he is informed that they are the sons of mechanics and artizans whose parents are far less able than his to support them in this manner. Now, what is the effect upon his mind? A dissatisfaction with farm life, and a determination to leave the farm and try the town. As this is the very thing we do not wish him to do, shall we not seek a remedy? It is easily found. When your boy faithfully renders you his service, and saves your hiring some one else, pay him at least half what you would the stranger. If you consider him already in your debt, I advise you to keep him eo. It is a good investment upon which you may wish to depend when strength fails you-in the winter

of old age. Give him an education and dress him respectably. Give him recreation for both mind and body. Convince him with facts-arguments so easily understood-that the farm is not only a pleasant, healthful, noble place to live on, but that it pays, and he will not leave you, but will be to your declining years a pillar of strength.

Besides adorning our homes, is there not a large field of heart adornment open before us. We have constantly above and around us the most gorgeous scenery in the world,-the scenery of cloudland. Nature's mysteries are hid from us by only the thinnest of coverings, and if young hearts are taught to study into the deep re cesses, they will not long for the husks of frivolous pleasure. Education is its own reward, and by properly storing the minds of our children with the knowledge of animals and plants—and how they grow, we shall find them contented and happy in its vast laboratory. Uneducated toil is like machinery without the lubricating influence of oil. The weary routine of incessant labor must be brightened by thoughts of the wonders contained in the great storehouse beneath and around us. The world moves on, and our boys move with it. Because our grandfathers and great grand fathers toiled on without thought (if they did, which I doubt), the generation of the present day will not, and have we not a labor before us to teach those thoughts the right channels in which to find healthy food to sustain a vigorous, mental growth. In reading the history of great men, we are astonished at the frequent record, "he was the son of a farmer." With pride we scan these linesand cur thoughts seek out the mothers of these men, and with them we review deeds of self-sacrificing honor and years of ambitious labor. And in the annals of crime and shame we are saddened to find the same words occasionally before us, "he was the son of a farmer;" and again thought takes a backward flight and we realize the heart aching 'til it breaks the weary hours of pain, and finally the rest that knows no waking, of her who gave life to one whose conduct has saddened and blighted hers. Had the erring son been kept upon the farm his feet had not found the paths of vice. In the brightest walks of life there is room for the sturdy integrity born and reared in nature's arms. And it is not grudg ingly that we send out men to fill legislative halls, council cham.

bers and pulpits, but we want our ranks well filled with those who are no less noble and gifted because the world does not applaud their sayings and doings. Stores and shops have no need of our help. Cities are full and more than full of their own offerings to supply their demands.

As we open our doors to let in the pure air, the sunshiue and the melody of God's chorus singers, in the glad spring days that are soon coming-so let cur hearts be open to the beauties that are so lavishly spread around us as to make us ignorant of their very existence. And as we till the soil deep to receive the seed for the coming harvest, let us not forget the young minds and hearts dependent upon us for daily food. In many instances our life is not only one of labor, but of cares and deprivations. We need to watch our own minds, that they do not get narrowed and dwarfed by circumstances, which we shall surely conquer if we meet obstacles with patient endurance and uncompromising determination.

And will my words reach any of "our boys." Let me advise you; look well to yourselves; look well to the life before and beyond you before you leave the home sheltered from vice, walled in from temptation, and covered from the storms of sin.

This paper was read by Miss Hattie Bacon of Manitowoc, a student of the University of Wisconsin. The paper and the very fine delivery of Miss Bacon, merited and received hearty commendation from the convention.

Mr. Robbins said from his experience hard work never hurt boys, and referred as a living example to his son, a healthy and intelligent young man present.

Mr. Phelps thought labor gave physical strength, but that severe application of the physical powers without some time being devoted to mental culture tended to dwarf the intellect.

President Stilson said that he had listened with unusual interest to the paper just read, as he was well acquainted with the author. He commended it highly, and regretted that there were not present more of the wives and daughters of the representative men of the farming interest, who had convened here. He hoped that these interesting and valuable papers written and read by ladies

at this convention, would stimulate others to "do likewise," and that at future gatherings of this nature we should be blessed with the presence of numerous ladies, who would participate in our deliberations and add to their interest.

Dr. Martin said that the convention was taking such an interest in the boys that he feared they would lose sight of the girls. He was a young man once-now he was old. He had never been a woman's rights man until to-day. These papers from the ladies had nearly converted him. He moved that a vote of thanks be tendered to the authors of the two papers just read, and to the young lady who had so beautifully read the last one, which was unanimously adopted.

Mr. Anderson said that the granges were educating both boys and girls, and in his opinion had done more for the families of farmers, than any organization ever instituted. The social feature was of vital importance. Its tendency was to cause them to look upon farm life from a more cheerful stand-point; was elevating and refining to the young; and was laying a foundation for better men and more noble, useful women for the coming generation. Mr. Graham said that he was in favor of educating and lifting up the sexes together, and referred to his legislative course as upholding and maintaining that idea. Mr. Carswell remarked that the twin stars of the two sexes were rising, and it was now condeded that ladies had rights that even men were bound to respect. Hon. Alexander Graham then read a paper upon "labor," which contained much useful information, and many practical thoughts worthy of consideration. The paper being lengthy, a synopsis only is given.

LABOR.

BY HON. ALEXANDER GRAHAM, JANESVILLE.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: On that bright and beautiful morning, first in the calender of time, when the heavens and the earth were fiuished, and "man became a living soul," the mandate went forth, "let the earth bring forth grass; the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit, after his kind." Adam was placed in the Garden "eastward in Eden to dress and

to keep it;" but he, like a great many other young men, who inherit farms, without knowing their cost, or appreciating their value, "kept not his first estate" and incurred the nnalterable decree: "cursed be the ground for thy sake; in the sweat of thy face shall thou eat bread all the days of thy life"— thus by his great transgression entailing labor and toil for all time to come upon the sons of men. Yet sometimes when in midsummer we look out over these broad, cultivated prairies, and discover that the greatest happiness of our race is associated with the cultivation of the soil, we are irresistably led to the conclusion that if this decree was ever severe, much of that severity has been revoked, and that this Providence has proved a blessing rather than a curse to mankind.

Looking at man in his present condition, it would seem as if his greatest misfortune would be idleness and inactivity. Under the present dispensation, to obtain our choicest, richest blessings, requires the greatest exertions.

Labor is defined to be the efforts of human beings to produce objects of desire. It may be divided and subdivided a great number of times-as physical or muscular labor, and into mental labor, which occupies the energies of the mind-into productive and unproductive labor-into agricultural, mechanical and commercial labor, and so on.

There is no distinction in labor that is entirely separate from all the rest, as the most stupid laborer must give some heed to what he is doing, and the profound thinker do some muscular labor in order to give to the world the benefit of his investigations.

Productive labor returns to society and the state more than its equivalent, and unproductive labor less than cost. Hence, unproductive persons and employments must be supported by those who produce more than they consume, and is the same thing as throwing away the amount of useful articles which might have been produced, had it been directed in proper channels.

Productive labor is the only source of wealth to the state. Nature has furnished spontaneously all the matter of which all articles and commodities are made, but until labor is applied to that matter to prepare it for use, it is not considered any part of wealth. If, then, labor is the true source of wealth, he that has muscle