Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-01-18
Farmers Bows.

Having bespoken some chestnut post
logs, a while ago, from farmer in the
mountain, l found them dnly delivered on
the different spots as directed; but it was
not till the last of the eight or ten loads,
tha. CHANGED to see the teamster He
was throwing off the heavy sticks and lay
ing them in neat pile, as | came up, and
| stopped TO take second look at the
dexterity and ease with which it was done
He was slight-made handsome little fel-
low, not quite fifteen years of age; and
with that double team and as heavy loads
as could well be lade upon a wagon, he
had made the trips alonc-the four miles
distance being mainly descent down the
mountain-side, and by as precipitous and
rough road as could well be called pas
sable Twice back and forward between
sunrise and night, he did what would be
called fair days work for a hired man
at dollar day.
Constantly applied to, as editors natur-
ally are, for information as to 'places" for
boys in the city-and the rage throughout
the country seeming to be to plunge all
"boys tina. mean to be anything into
the seething chaldron of city life-I have
felt my curiosity, for the year past, turned
to such casual observation as could make
of the Goy-condttion in the country The
aforementioned instance is one of many
that have noted, as illustrative Of the
value of boy-labor. With my farming
neighbors, and with working mer, l have
gossipped considerably about the proper
ton of farm work that requires the main
strength of man, the treatment Of boys
generally, the cost of their clothing and
schooling, and the opportunities given
them for reading or relaxation. l have
come to the conclusion that the ,cora hea-
ted citizen Of our "great and glorious Re
public" is the boy on a firm. 1t seems
also very evident to me that there is no
occupation, q. which while learning the
art of it, boy can so well earn his liveli-
hood and reserve some daily leisure for
himself. And it seems to me, too, that
considering the healthiness of it, the out
door variety of its work and the neighbor-
hood of rural liberty and amusements, the
ease and simplicity of its requirements as
a pursuit, and the certainty and readiness
with which its knowledge can be early
practiced for himself, it might be, of all
apprcnticeships the most attractive to a
boy.
l wish to write down few suggestions
on this subject-but with no aim to direct
any present reform in country-boy condi-
ton. The present race of short-sighted
and tyrannical farmers, who take boys
from the work-houses, and "get all they
can out of EN-" must die off first. Public
opinion must be SO changed, and boys
rights so well understood, as to overrule
farm tyranny-and is work of time.
The pauper boy will not be decently treat
ed, probably till the next generation.
But, meantime, the rush of call the in
telligence" to the cities needs to be check
ed-farming needs to be rescued from its
present stigma Of being "only work for
the stupid one who can do nothing else"
education and science need to be added
to the farmers business necessities-and
(last and perhaps not least) pride in it, as
a profession for manly boy to prefer, i,
to be carefully contrived for and sustained.
With our American shop-keeping getting
to be more and more overdone, and our
American farming yearly complained Of,