It was the spot on the face of the earth where labor got the largest proportion of the joint product of labor and capital.

The farmers made an excellent living.

They made excellent legislators, excellent town officers, excellent jurors, and excellent clients.

I have been at some time or other in my life counsel for every one of the fifty-two towns in Worcester County.

I had a large clientage among the farmers.
In the intimacy of that relation I got a knowledge of the inmost soul and heart of a class of men who I think constituted what was best in American citizenship, a knowledge which has been a great educational advantage to me and valuable in a thousand ways in my public and professional life.
From the first of December, 1849, until the fourth of March, 1869, I was diligently employed in my profession, save for a single year's service in each house of the Massachusetts Legislature.