Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-10-31
A WORD IN BEHALF OF FARMERS BOYS

FARMERS. did you ever think what a lonesome
business farming can be, and often is, made for
your boys, just by your own unsociability ? Do
you talk with your sons as you 60 to and from,
and while at work ? Or do you work in dreary,
uncheered silence, unless q ~neighbor chances TO
come along or help you a day, and then suddenly
recover the faculty of speech and flow of spirits ?
Do you know your boys subjects Of thought ? his
pet plans !? and would he confide to you or advise
with you about any new plan or idea Do you
take as much pains to make the daily round Of
your son pleasant as you would it the son of your
neighbor was working by your side? Do you
complain that your son takes no interest" in your
work, and at the SAM time do you take no inter
est in his plans for pleasure and profit? Do you
help him to make his show and arrow" or his
trucks" or his sled ? or does he have to con.
struct these out of your sight, and enjoy them by
stealth, for fear of receiving a reprimand from
you for this waste of time ? Do you commend his
good endeavors, or do you reprimand on every
slight occasion, without any manifestation of your
appreciation of his dil:gence at other times?
There is nothing so terribly discouraging as
this perpetual fault without any common
dation, and yet, who cannot call TO mind many
fathers who so rarely commend their sons, that it
is thought to be said ironically when by chance a
word Of satisfaction with their conduct is uttered?
Farmers sons feel this more from the fact that
they are almost constantly with their fathers.
They cannot, like village boys, meet companions
at night after,their work is done, and 'have a good
time" nor can they every few days see some show.
freman's parade, or other entertaining curiosity,
that may serve them for subjects of thought when
at work in silence. The farm is their world, and
if the father does not try hard to make himself the
companion of bis boys, to not only SEEM but to
be interested in whatever interests his sons, to
make the hours of work a pheasant, sociable
time" instead of a silent, dreary drag and il he
does not by consulting with them, and asking for
and talking over with them their plans and sug-
gestions, and by proper commentator. encourage
them to better efforts in the future if he does not
do this, why should he be surprised to learn some
morning, that his son has become tired of the
farm world, and had stepped OUT to try the
broad untried world out side
How many fathers, whose boys, much to their
surprise, leove home just as soon as they can,
might justly blame only their own reserve and
silence for their sons discomfort? Boys are very
much like men, and how can they be contented and
happy, while working day after day in silence
only when the parental mouth is opened to repri
; mand some error of omission or commission? NJ
one wonders that the slaves of the South are no
conten.ed, and do not feel an interest in thei
!, work, and yet, many q farmer treats his boys, 81
Y far as companionship is concerned, just as i
slaves.
lie does not do this because he does not Low
p. his boy, though it seems so to the child, but h
. has 'put away all childish things" so far, that h
does not appreciate the feelings of youth, and the
the boy is his own, and he does not feel under an.
i oOClut oUllSutlOu5 " uiH. L NtfIy DtucNc IL
boys who "live out" will average to be more cor
tented, and to have more reason to be contenteC
than farmers boys who live at home, so far a
companionship with, and commentator from, til
father is concerned.
Perhaps this may be thought overstating til
question, but it is in accordance with my obse
walton. Let any one just observe in his ow
neighborhood, or still better, observe carefully b
o. own boys, and he will at once he convinced thel
d. is here a great evil, and l think it is to be esp
r cially observed in the farming community. Pc
pie who labor hard, are apt to become cold an
t. reserved. The work of the farmer, although ver
re suggestive of the most pleasant and instruct,
e. conversation, yet can be done with but little il
c. terchange of words, and in the quiet monoton
rs of hoeing one hill after another, the farmer 70
W gets that the son is not as old as himself, with
life time of recollections for his mind to feed u
on.
just for a moment think of this, father, whoev,
and wherever you may be is the life of your sc
he made as pleasant and instructive as it ought to b.
ia Does he make n confident of you, and you a cor
tn panion of him? IF he inadvertently gets into al
n difficulty. are you the first or last he comes to Fl
So assistance and sympathy? Has he reason to &c
n- and think that you are better satisfied with Il
he same service rendered by a neighbours son tbs
ry by them, or does he know that you feel peculia
%. ly g~ratifed and pleased by bis good conduct.
ev Think of this thing, fathers and observe yov
,al sons conduct, and if you find that he feels az
re, more confidence that he shall find sympathy al
"a. encouragement and assistance from any one ell
es- than from you, your duty to him as a father h
10. not been discharged.
,st Boston, Sept. %, 1857.