20
Country Living
With a Piece of Land and a Comfortable Home
The earth is to be made to give forth its strength; but without the
blessing of God it could do nothing. In the beginning, God looked
upon all that He had made, and pronounced it very good. The curse
was brought upon the earth in consequence of sin. But shall this curse
be multiplied by increasing sin? Ignorance is doing its baleful work.
Slothful servants are increasing the evil by their lazy habits. Many
are unwilling to earn their bread by the sweat of their brow, and they
refuse to till the soil. But the earth has blessings hidden in her depths
for those who have courage and will and perseverance to gather her
treasures. Fathers and mothers who possess a piece of land and a
comfortable home are kings and queens.
Many farmers have failed to secure adequate returns from their land
because they have undertaken the work as though it was a degrading
employment; they do not see that there is a blessing in it for themselves
and their families. All they can discern is the brand of servitude. Their
orchards are neglected, the crops are not put in at the right season, and
a mere surface work is done in cultivating the soil.—
Fundamentals of
Christian Education, 326, 327
(1894).
Fruit, Vegetables, and Poultry Suggested for One Region
In this neighborhood there is a large tract of unoccupied land.
Some of our people who are living in the poisoned atmosphere of the
cities might profitably secure a few acres of this land. They could
support themselves by raising fruit and vegetables and poultry. The
Sanitarium would gladly buy eggs and vegetables from them. I wish
that some such enterprise as this might be started. A great blessing
[19]
would come to parents and to children, if they would leave the wicked,
polluted cities, and go into the country.—
Letter 63, 1904
.
Country Living—A Blessing to the Poor
If the poor now crowded into the cities could find homes upon
the land, they might not only earn a livelihood, but find health and
happiness now unknown to them. Hard work, simple fare, close
economy, often hardship and privation, would be their lot. But what
a blessing would be theirs in leaving the city, with its enticements to