American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-03-14
gaHm A.x- Garden.
Farmers Home,

merely mercenafY one 10 aceumu'
late money for the love Of money, {,
hoard it like the miscr, to put out al
interest, ik" the usurer, or to-invest
it in railroad stock or paper cities in
the West, like the restless speculator,
but as a means of happiness and com
fort to himselfand family. 1t should
be his ambition to create for his chill
dren beautiful, pleasant and happy
home, where the young tendrils of
their earliest affections may cling
with undying strength, where the
yourg spirit shall gather strength,
energy and beauty, and sweethessfor
the future, and the memory of which
shall be a beacon light to guide
through all the many paths of life.
10 do this he should spare no pains,
no expense which his purse will al
low. OF course this must be the lin
it where pecuniary matters are con-
cerned. But wealth can never con-
fer happiness, and should only be re-
garded as one of the means. There
are many little trihe. which are with
in reach of almost everybody, that
do much toward making a pleasant
and happy home.
When the young farmer is locating
himself, and building his house nest.
let him do so with an eye to comfort
and convenience as we'll as profit.
1t his home must be small let it b.
comfortable and pleasant. And
there is no necessity that it should
stand close to the roadside, unadorn
ed with tree or shrub, vine or flower.
eThese are the free gifts of the All
Father; alike accessible to rich or
poor. And their presence will do
much toward making home attractive
without them. But too often the far
mer, who is busy with his broad ac- es
Of hnd thinks it wholly beneath his
notice to plant trees. bccanse he
thinks they will not return in money.
Aud tne wife, too often weary with
the care Of her household neglect,
what she considers a lainor matter,
and sacrifices her love for the besuti-
ful upon the shrine of mammon.-
And thus their home has none Of the
graceful appcndagcs of uoe or flow
er, TO render it attractive to child
ren.
Yet it is amistaken notion, that it
is labor lost and economy misappIi-
ed, to spend it in adorning their
home. There is no investGent that
pays so large dividend to the gold
en- currency Of happiness, as that
which is invested in home comforts
and every da7 egjoyments, mental
Injuries, aud social inr llectual pleas
ures. | do not mean the farmer or
his family should be extravagant, aad
launch into all the foolish follies of
the times. But he has a right to
PLEASANT, attractive and beautiful
home. BY his own industry he Gre
ates the means of enjoyments for
others as well as himself. lie is no
idl"r in the hive, that he should not
enjoy the wealth that he Creates
Let him surround himself with the
refnements of taste and cultivation
and his won mind, if rough and un-
cultivated, will insensibly yield to the
silent influence of his Surroundings.
and be softened and refined by the
atmosphere of his home. Let him
cultivate the soil of his intellect,
with the same diligence that he does
mother earth, and it will yield arich
return in happiness.
If he has children, he can leave
them no richer in heritance that the
memory of happy home, combined
with the social and moral culture their
natures will receive its atmosphere of
love and peace, and sharing in it in
tellectual pleasures. 1t cannot be
denied that there is a sad d. ficiency
i'll farmers homes indeed may
truthfuIly say that MANY wealthy
farmers have no homes, and with all
their broad acres, are poor indeed in
aii tudb CSusIltuIeS JuS elements OF
happiness. They may have large
houses where they resort for tier
meals and lodgings, where their chill
oren grow up like young animals,
strong vigorous and healthy but with
minds uncultiyated, morals untaught,
apd with no high aims to nerve them
to action mo hopes or aspirations
gave those centered in making money
or perhaps if their parents are so un.
Fortunate rs to bevery wealthy, their
only aim in life is TO spend it IN
scenes of CORFU ton and vice. We
cannot expect the children whose
young life drew in the air of such
home, to go forth into the world to
bless 1t by deeds OF active goodness, on
that they will cherish loving regard
Tor parents, or Know anything Of the sa
cred influence OF true home But let
the farmer, Instead OF ayariciops. desire
TO add to the number of his acres deepen
the culture of his farm, study to increase
1t fertility; aud if he has sur, ilus Of
cash let him spend it iu his home. Let
him educate his children. | do not