Nebraska advertiser., 1857-10-08
The Farm.
work for Rainy Days.
A work SHOP ON EVERY FARM.

] "a y l. q % q al - 4
A distinguished divine in New Eng
land once preached a sermon on the
moral uses Of rainy days. The heav-
ems have been preaching so much in
the same strain, the past three or four
months, that the topic will at least be
seasonable. They have come in sea-
son, and out of season, so that farmers
who have not had forecast to provide
for them, have had occasion to complain
of lost time.
The farmer, Of necessity, pursues-
the most of his labors under the open
skies; and unless he can supply his
boys and men with employment under
cover, rainy days must be lost. Some,
indeed, work men and cattle through
all weather, but the practice is inhu-
man and impolite. Both teams and
men are often disabled where the prac-
tice is perseYered in. Rainy days, if
rightly improved upon the farm, aside
from their agency in watering the
earth, will be reckoned among the
farmers richest blessings. They bring
to the manager of the farm a little
breathing spell, when he may contem-
plate the progress already made in his
work, and lay his plans for the future.
At this season, when everything is
pressing, they are particularly impor-
tant. Of dozen things that need to
be done, it requires little time to Sc
lect thepiece ofwork that will suffer by
delay.
But tho boys must have something
to do on rainy days. Fishing should
not be the invariable recreation. If
the farmer has tool-shop, and a work
bench, both boys andme will be fur
Enished WITH profitable employment
when it rains. A few tools are quite
common upon the premises Of a Yam
kee farm, and the number might be
, proftably enlarged. The Influence Of
a the frequent use of the saw, the ham
. mer, the bit, and the plane, in making
boy handy, is incalculable. One sees
the contrast when the ignorant Europe
an laborer is put down upon an Amer
!, lean farm. He knows that kind of la
Dor to which he has been trained, and
r is extremely awkward at everything
else. The boy of the American farm
er, if he has had a work shop to grow
up in, can adapt himself to any kind
of mechanical labor with the utmost
ease. His arms and fingers are sup
pie, and he becomes an adept in all
: that he undertakes.
: This kind of physical education,
which makes boy ingenius in plan
: ming, and skilful in the execution of bis
plans, is worth far more than any pc
cuniary fortune. 1t makes a man
comparatively independent, in whatev-
er circumstances he may be placed
Put him down in the wilderness, and
with an axe, saw, and auger, he will
construct him a comfortable house in
few days. to shelter his family from
= the storm. If he seeks his fortune in
the city, he will be ready for any busi-
ness that turns up; and ifthe best mode
of conducting it is not already adopted
:, he will quite likely discover it.
Every farmer, then, who has boys
growing up around him, should have 9
snug workshop, well lighted, and il
the winter, we'll warmed with stove
The building need not be a seperatt
lone. A room in the crib, carriage.
house, or barn, may be fitted up a
small cost for this purpose. Some
r farmers turn their kitchen into work
g shop, and here, on the rainy days
manufacture 5heir yokes, ox-whips anC
whiAe.trees. But this is a heathenisl
/. practice that no good housewife ough
q q to tolerate, and we are quite sure NJ
Of considerate husband will countenancC
it. Woman has her rights, and those
which are particularly disposed to vim
.dicate, are her rights to rule in th'
thouse. The workshop should be By
}itself, and order should reign through
out. There should be tool chest foI
the smaller and nicer articles--the bit
: stock. and the sets Of augers and bit
for holes of all sizes, from one incl
downward to the smallest gimlet hole
for the planes, the fine saw, the screw
, driver, the tack hammer, the screw
D and tacks, the ohisels, the rule, the spir
% itlevel, andthe measuring tape,
,t- The larger tools, the axe, saw, an
to augers, which are more frequently used
should have places to hang or stand
so that they may be found in the dark
Unnecessary. - Neatness and system i
the care oftools and other articles, ar
: learned only in youth. They are in
valuable habits, and often lead to sue
r cess in life. Upon one side of tn
% room Should bei a workbench, o
which boards ten or twelve feet lon
81 n may be planed- 1t should be furnish
mi ed with a vice or wooden screw,
.r which all small articles, may be hel
lso fast. for the purpose, of.using the pla1r
or the shaving knife. l-,rr,zIg