Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-03-04
REMEMBsh THE BOYS.
Cold weather Is here again, and
"Drearily over The drinine snow,
The dlsmal winds q The winter blow,

WIN desoiate SOUND OF signing
The thriving farmers stock are warmly
housed and snugly bedded, the wood is piled
high in the shed, and the bins Of the cellar
filled to the brim. Among all the other cares,
farmers, have you remembered the boysf
Never mind the girls. They will speak for
themselves, when the matter Of dress Is con-
cerned but do not buy velvet hats for them,
while you leave your sons 10 fodder in thread
bare summer Jackets, which are no protection
against the cold. Don't buy tall glove-kid
boots for your daughters, while your boys
plod around in the wet snow in WORKOUT
shoes and lesky boots. 1t is mistaken no.
ton that farmers boys can stand anything.
Nine farmers out OF ten Of the old school will
tell you'll II makes EN- tough" There is
nothing toughening in we, feet or in chilled,
shivering frames. II one could bear the ex-
posure, and yet feel the warm glow Of health,
1t might answer otherwise, every day Of
such experience tells terribly on the constitu-
ton. Where will you find an cid farmer who
has pursued THE course from his youth up,
who has not bent form, stiffened joints,
and frame racked with rheumatism, One
would almost think il the heirloom Of our
farmers. 1t does not always wait for old age,
either. Yet there are men who have been
hArd-workng all their lives, yet have careful
ly observed the laws Of health, who at sew
enty are as supple and erect as they were at
twenty one men who could buckle on their
skates, II they chose, and astonish all the
youngsters by their feats on the village pond !;
who could pitch quoits with the best of boys
or =" hoe out their row =" with the sturdiest
young farmers in the country eide But Il ey
we're no, men who shivored through their
boyhood's winters in wet feet and thin jack
cts.
There is great call for reform in this
matter. There is vast amount Of suffering
in the households Of prosperous farmers every
winter season. In some homes it is looked
on as the next thing to high treason to ask
for new clothes. The cattle must be made
comfortable, or they will not thrive; but the
poor boys, and sometimes the girls, must
manage to rub along somehow they must
patch up the old duds and make EN- do
another year; :" and when 1.-THE Of what is
needed is at last procured, it is done so grudg.
ingly, and causes so many complaints and so
many sour looks, until the "new has a little
worn off, that the poor mother and children
are effectually checked from asking for any
thing else, as long as it eau possibly be avoid
ed.
Oh, what spot to call home No wonder
the children leave at the earliest possible day,
to shift for themselves in the world There
is nothing like such injustice to harden the
hearts of children against parent.
If you want TO tougher your boys, instead
of laying the foundation for fatal disease or
life long suffering, give them thick wooden
jackets, wooden lined, warm miltens with deep
fringy wrists, stout double boots, which it
must be their care to keep soft, by daily oil
ing, and you have robbed old winter Of all
his ierceness. Exposure, with such an out
fit, 'piH make them hardy and strong. They
will como in from their tasks with bounding
steps, cheeks as ruddy as winter apples, and
eyes as sparkling as crystals. There is moth
ing that sets the blood bounding in the veins
Of warmly dressed boy, like buffet with
winter SHOWS. He looks with lofty pity on
4" the poor girls smuggling down about the
fire, knowing nothing of the fun of plunging
waist-deep into snow drifts, and having a
bout at snow balling before coming to sup
per.
1t Is getting to be very common thing for
oui farmers sons to die of consumption nor
is it matter of great surprise, when we con-
slider the manner in which they are provided
for in cold weather.
Beware of old shoes and thin clothing in
the winter. at is in that way cold comes
in, and then cough-and then a cofin."--
Cultiuator.