Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-07-27
FARMER BURRIT AND HIS LIZ
BRARY.

est Pennsylvania husbandman,
who had been brought up very
much as his father and grandlath-
er had been before him-that is,
with just enough knowledge to
make him a respectable tiller of
the soil. For several winters,
when farm work was slack, he had
been sent to a country school,
and having some aptitude, he
learned to read and write tolera-
bly, well, and to cast up simple
accounts. There his literary ed
ucation ended, and henceforth his
his energies were devoted to that
kind Of labour which is so neces-
sary to make the practical farm
er. On the death Of his thrifty
father he entered into the posses
sion Of a large and good farm, and
in due time married. At the
time to which we now refer he had
six children, all young, who had
came into the world alternately
boys and girls, and their father
never dreamedo Of their being bro't
up in any other way than he and
his ancestors had been. Each
one was destined to receive a little
schooling, and to do 0 good deal
Of work suited to their respect
i've ages. AS is unhappily the
case with too many iarm-houses,
there was but n dim light in that
dwelling. There was no thought
Of cultivating the higher faculties
Of its inmates. They were TO go
through the dull plodding life Of
those who preceded them; and
although the farmer had u good
family Bible and Psalm. book, his
library consisted Of somc few cle-
mcntary school books, with the
necessary annual almanac. II
was in this stateof affairs that an
intelligent neighbor, who had turn
ed his attention from a city busi-
ness to farming, with the view Of
recruiting his health, became ac-
quainted with Mr.. Burrit, and
deeply interested in his family
The confidence he inspired, and
tho kindly feelings he manifested,
made him a welcome visitor, and
gave him no small influence. In
the course Of many converse tons
he threw out occasional hints
about the proper training Of chill.
dren, and the advantages result.
ing from cultivating their mental
faculties and moral powers. AL.
though he found farmer Burit and
his wife rather dull scholars, who
with difficulty could look beyond
the narrow sphere in which they
themselves had been educated, he
was nevertheless encouraged ia
give them line upon line,a land pre-.
cept upon prccept. Taking ad.
vantage ofw hat he supposed a ia.
vourablc opportunity, he engaged
one day in the following CONVEX
sation with the farmer.
"Neighbor Burrit, / was think
ing to-day that you were one o.
our most substantial and thriving
farmers"
"Thank you: l am pretty vel
to do in the world, but it is be.
cause | work my way. | have nc
idle folks about me-"
"True friend Burrit; and it i:
: commendablc in you; but you viii
excuse me i'll say | have felt some
surprise that you have not all the
! implements which a good farmer
; should have"
'Hav'nt | though? / guess j
you will look about, you'll fine
! | have all | need"
"Well l have been looking abou
and | have not found half doz
: Ell good books in your house."
30! that's it; and what do l wan
!. with books? What's the use O
! them? ] guess they cau't teacl
!, me farming. Your book farmer
, amt worth much-always tryin,
something new, and coming on
; with short crops"
"Ahl but friend Burrit, book
; teach many goodand useful thing
: besides farming; and to tell yo1
1 the truth, | really think the,
: might be very useful to your chill
I dren, whom ! know you love, an
3 would like to see a little more in
D telligent than their neighbors.-
Now, ifyou would spend fifty do
lars in good books, / will max
such selection as | am sure wi
! be instructive to your children.
u "Whew! fifty dollars laid out i
!, books! Why you must be jok
Il ing!"
o mo, / am not; l never was NOR
serious in my life. My only me
: tive for suggesting it is the inter
: est l feel in your family; and l wi
= promise you, that if at the end c
six wears Won repent of the MI,