wealth wasn't made in a day, boys

You may or may not know that I think Laura Ingalls Wilder and the life she portrayed in her Little House books are pretty cool. Well, the pig killing and prairie loving are cool; the parts where your mom says "the only good Indian is a dead Indian" and your dad dresses up in black face and participates in a minstrel show makes my pinko commie heart queasy. But that discussion is probably for my other blog "using my white privilege for it's intended purpose."

Anyway, for those not in the know, in her 50's and 60's Wilder wrote 7 books about her girlhood. The series ends with her marriage to Almanzo Wilder, the hot farmer with the bomb horses, and they life happily ever after.
Sort of.
Actually the first years of the Wilders' marriage are filled with tragedies including (but not limited to) their house burning down, their baby dying, and getting typhoid which left Almanzo partially paralyzed. Bright eyed youngsters can read about their Job-like battle in an 8th book "The First Four Years," which will harsh their mellow more than the beginning of "By the Shores of Silver Lake" which tells the story of her dog dying and her sister going blind. Laura started writing "The First Four Years", but then never finished it because of Almanzo's death. After Laura's death her daughter Rose had the manuscript and then after Rose's death, her executor found the papers and published them in their rough form.
If you didn't get the idea yet, the book is sort of a major downer. But at the end is a happy scene with Almanzo going to the barn to do chores and singing a verse from a song:

You may talk of the mines of Australia,
They're loaded with gold, without doubt.
But there's plenty of gold on the farm, boys,
If only you'll shovel it out.

I always really liked it and wondered how the rest of the song went. The other day I googled it and found all the lyrics (which follow) and the sheet music: go library of congress. There is a (not very good) video on youtube of a group singing the song and there are several (much better) versions on iTunes.

I think Almanzo would be happy the song is still being sung.

STAY ON THE FARM

Come, boys, I will tell you a story;
Come here, I will whisper it low.
Are you thinking of leaving the homestead?
Don't be in a hurry to go.
For the city has many attractions,
But think of the vices and sins.
Though once in the vortex of fashion,
How soon the course downward begins!

Chorus:

Don't be in a hurry to go,
Don't be in a hurry to go.
If you're thinking of leaving the homestead,
Don't be in a hurry to go.

You may talk of the mines of Australia,
They're loaded with gold, without doubt.
But there's plenty of gold on the farm, boys,
If only you'll shovel it out.
The mercantile life is a hazard;
The goods are first high and then low.
Better trust the old farm a while longer.
Don't be in a hurry to go.

The wild, busy west has inducements,
And so has the busiest mart,
But wealth wasn't made in a day, boys;
Don't be in a hurry to start.
The bankers and brokers are wealthy;
They bring in their thousands or so.
But think of the frauds and deceptions;
Don't be in a hurry to go.

So, the farm is the safest and surest;
The orchards are loaded today.
You're King of the Air on the mountain,
And monarch of all you survey.
Better risk the old farm a while longer,
Though the profits come in rather slow.
Remember, you've nothing to lose, boys,
Don't be in a hurry to go.

Late 19th Century song found in a turn-of-the-century Grange song book.