Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1851-01-08
WINTER.

Winter has come, and with it season Of
partial rest to the farmer. His crops are all
gathered, and his well-flIed granares and
cellars attest the success of his labors the
past season. His oul-houses are, undonbt-
edIy, all repaired and his cattle, sheep and
pigs are well cared for. But though these
things are all done, winter is yet an lmpor-
,am time to the farmer. If an improved
cultivation Of his fields has resulted bene-
fcially. the same will be true in regard 10
the intellect of his children. He should
not be con,ened with the cold, mechanical !
mode of instruction which, we are sorry to
say, has been too prevalent heretofore IN
country schools. If when he employs a
person TO cultivate his fields, he is anxious
TO see that the work is we'll done, how
much more anxious should he be when he
employs one to cultivate the intellect of his
children, to assure himself that that one is
also doing his duty.
Farmers should provide their children
with school priylleges-good teachers, good
books and comfortable schoo-rooms; but
they should not stop at this. They should
visit the schools frequently, and see that the
time OF their children is not mis-Pent. II a
teacher is doing his duty, this will encour-
age him; and if he is not. OF course II Is
necessary that the parent should be aware
of the fact.
Though wheat may turn TO cheat, as
some of your correspondents assert, yet the
seeds of useful knowledge when sown up
on the fruitful field of youthful intellect,
will always produce the best Of frui. The
plants which sPriug up from them are per-
enniaI, and bloom, and shed their influence
around through the whole course Of life.
And it is not enough that the farmer send
his children TO good school-durng the
day-llme He should have an evening
school at home. These long evenings af
ff'ord an excellent opportunity for men
lsl improvement, and they should no. be
allowed to slip away without advantage
There is not sufficient attention paid to fire.
side instruction by farmers in general
When The fire is glowing on the hearth, and
The family are seated around, enjoying the
genial honr Of domestic happiness, the time
instead Of being spent in idle talk, could be
pleantly devoted TO intellectual improve
ment, The raging Of the storm without
gives peculiar feeling of satisfaction to
those who are best with warm and happy
home, and their minds are more free from
The cares Of business than at almost any
other time. This is favorable time for
the study Of history. The farmers library
should contain some Of HE mos! approved
works on history and political and moral
science, and during these long evenings let
some one of Tie older members Of the laml
~ read aloud, pausing occasionally to give
room for inquiries or remarks. II this course
be pursued the farmer will find that his
family has been benefited almos. as much
by home instruction as by the acquisition
al school.
Besides books on general knowledge, the
farmer should take al least one good news
paper, for, without this, he is certain to fall
behind the age, without he borrows his
neighbor's paper-whIch would look some
Thing like borrowing his neighbor's bible
and that every one would dislike to do. 1t
is ali indispu,able fact, that the intelligent
readers of good newspaper are the best
and most useful members Of the communI-
,y. shall leave fuElher remarks on winter
cultivation Of The intellectual SOIL for fu-
,ure les.er.-DolZar Newspaper.