The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-01-27
WORK FOR RAINY DAYS.

WORK FOR RAINY DAYS.
A distinguished divine in New England
Ience preached sermon on the moral uses Of
rainy days. The heavens have been preach
ing so much in the same strain, the past
three or four months, that the topic will at
least be seasonable. They have come in
season, and out of season, so that farmers
who had not had forecast to provide for them,
have had occasion for complaint Of lost time.
The farmer, Of necessity, pursues the most
Of his labors under the open skies; and un-
less he can supply his boys and men with
employment under cover, rainy days must
be lost. Some, indeed, work men and cat
tie through all weather, but the practice is
inhuman and impolitic. Both teams and
men are often disabled where the practice is
perseyered in. Rainy days, if rightly inn
proved upon the farm, aside from their
agency in watering the earth, will be reck-
oned among the farmers richest blessings.
They bring to the manager of the farm a
little breathing spell, when be 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 important. OF dozen
things that need to be done, ii requires lit
lie time to select the piece Of work that will
suffer BY delay.
But the boys must have something 10 do
on rainy days. Fishing should not be the
inyariable recreation. IL the farmer has a
tool shop, and work k-beneh, both boys and
men will be furnished with profitable en-
ployment when il rains. A few tools are
quite common upon the premises Of Yam
kee farm, and the number might be profita-
| bly enlarged. The influence Of the frequent
use of the saw, the hammer, the bit, and the
plane, in making boy happy, is incalenla-
bIe. One sees the contrast when the igno-
rant European laborer is put down upon an
American farm. He knows that kind Of
labor to which he has been trained, and il
extremely awkward at everything else. The
boy Of the American farmer, if he has q
work shop TO grow up in, can adapt himself
10 any kind OF mechanical labor with the
utmost ease. His arms and fingers are supple,
and he becomes adept IN all that he under
takes.
This kind Of physical education, which
makes boy ingenious in planning. and skill.
ful III the execution Of his plans, is worth
far more than any pecuniary fortune. II
makes man comparatively independent, in
whatever circumstances he may be placed.
Put him down in the wilderness, and with
an axe, saw aud augur, he viii construct
him comfortable house III a few days, tO
shelter his family from the storm. Ii he
seeks his fortune in the city. lie will be ready
for any business that turns up; and il the
best mode of conducting it is not alread,
adopted, he will quite likely discover il.
/ Every farmer, then, who has boys growing
up around him, should have snug work.
4 shop we'll lighted, and in winter, well warmed
with stove. The building need not be /
separate one. A ropm ia the crib, carriage
house, or barn. may be fitted up at small cos
for this purpose. Some farmers turn thcii
kitchen into d work shop, aud here, on III,
rainy days, manufacture their ypkes, OK
whips and white trees. But this ii hea
thcnish practice that no good housewife
ought TO tolerate, and We are quite sure nj
cousideratc husband will conntenancc il
Woman has her rights. and those which "
are particularly disposed TO yindicate ar
her rights 10 rule III the house. The work
shop should be by itself, and order shonlt
reign throughout. There should be foe
chest for Tie smaller and nicer articles--th
bit stock, and the sets ot angers and bits 70
lhnles Of all sizes, from one inch doWnwar
10 the smallest gimblet hole, for the plane.
the fine saw, the screw driver. the tack ham
liner, The screws and tacks. the chiscls, III
rule, the spirit level, and the measurin
tape.
The larger tools, tie axe, saw. and aNeery
which are more frequently used, should laN
places to hang or stand, 80 that they may B
found in the dark il necessary. Neatncs
and system in the care Of tools and oihs
articles. are learned only in youth. The
arc invaluable habits, and often lead to sut
cess in life. Upon one side Of the roOl
/ should be q work bench, on which boards e
Or twelve feet long may be planed. l. shoul
be furnished with vice Or wooden screw
: which all small articles may be held fast I
: the purpose of using the plane Or the Shawn
knife.
With such room fitted up and furnishC
with fifteen or twenty dollars worth of tool
The BOYS will never be at loss for anus
ment, and the men will never lack emplv,
ment on rainy DAYS. ltwould pas for itsg
every year, aside from Iii influence In trail
ing The BOYS 70 skilllul labor and industriol
habits. II dc tooth or bow Of rake
: broken, John can easily mend it. u the j,
handle breaks, he has a piece Of ash. ",
i. seasoned. that will make another. II Z
y cart ladder gives out, lie knows how to p
ic IN new slat. There will bc hundreds
= items Of expense saved every year BY
work shop. With this adjunct Of the far
rainy days will De greater blessings 20 |