121. The Aged Friend 125. The Barley, Malt, and Beer Question; by Dr. F. Lees 126. Keep Away from the Public-House 139. The Temperance Love Feast, by T. B. Smithies 140. George, the Australian Emigrant 141. Advice to Soldiers, by Sir C. Napier 142. Medical Opinions for the Aged 12 155. The Christian Sabbath Breaker 156. Reminiscences of a Tavern Parlour 157. Richard Wilkinson, the Railway Labourer 158. Missionary Facts; or the Dying Testimony of a Great Man 159. The Drinker's Song; by George Hood 160. Self-Imposed Burdens; A Speech by G. R. Porter to the 163. Wages as affected by Temperance; a Lecture at Pendleton, 167. A Word for Myself-Sixteen Years a Teetotaler, by Benja- 172. Edward Fisher, the Banker; a Sketch by T. B. Thompson 174. The Temperance Reformation as Auxiliary to Evange- 179. The Way to Fortune: or, "Better to Work than to Beg" 183. Productive Labour and Temperance; by A. Prentice 184. The Queen in the Factories; by the Rev. T. Spencer, M.A. 185. The Onward Movement; by S. Bowly 190. Encouragement for Poor Orphan Boys 191. Ho! Ye Imperturbable Smokers 192. Springes to Catch Woodcocks 24242++++ 197. The Scriptural Claims of Teetotalism; by Newman Hall, B.A. 23 198. The Value of Education to the Working Classes; by Ed- ward Baines THE HERTFORDSHIRE FARMER. THOMAS SPENCER JACKSON'S SPEECH AT EXETER HALL. Little did I think of being invited to come from the woods of Hertfordshire to address such a large audience. Neither do I flatter myself that I was invited for any other reason than that God has given me firmness to carry out those principles we have assembled to advocate. I will give you a brief account of my own experience. I was born and bred a farmer, and although not so ruddy and robust as farmers generally are, yet I trust mine is a hand of industry. Eight years ago I was suffering under the same delusion which many are now labouring under, namely, that of taking intoxicating drinks every day, and fancying I could not live without them. I was, in fact, ordered to take it several times a day by the medical man, because I was very delicate; and to give you a proof of my great weakness, I confess I did take it (laughter.) It is true I had heard of teetotalism at that time, but I scarcely knew what it meant; but hearing of a meeting to be held at Hertford, with Sir Culling Eardley Smith in the chair, I thought I would just go and hear what he could say against the drink we thought so good; and on hearing the powerful arguments by the Rev. W. R. Baker, I came away determined to belong to the drinking-classes no longer; and not knowing another teetotaler in the neighbourhood, I had to fight the battle single-handed. Yes, and a far more glorious battle it was than Nelson ever fought, for whereas he was engaged in sending his fellow-creatures unprepared to meet their God by wholesale, I was using my little influence in trying to rescue them from the drunkard's grave and the drunkard's hell. Although I strictly adhered to the temperance principle, I did not sign the pledge till three years after, when I had the satisfaction of doing so at a meeting in the village of Watton. Having seen many of my father's men gathering in the harvest with nothing stronger to drink than tea or coffee, and one I particularly remember drinking nothing but water from the limpid stream, I had an opportunity of observing its effects on those who practised the principle of total abstinence, and it was observable that those who were in the habit of taking strong drink at their work, before the close of the day, got stupid, and lazy, and sleepy; but no sooner did they turn teetotalers than they were "wide awake.' But I must answer that question, to speak to which principally brought me here, "If every body turned teetotalers, what is to become of the barley?" Allow me to tell you, that last Michaelmas I rented a farm on my own responsibility. It was notoriously out of condition; indeed there were scarcely any prospects of gaining a livelihood, except by the constant sweat of my brow. When the time was at hand for me to sow my first seed, barley was selling at about sixty shillings per quarter, and I believe |