Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1868-05-01
A Word to the Farmer.

The pleasant days have como again, anu
like the state of affairs in the Beehive, there
10 stir In the country among our farmers
Winter has now very nearly disappeared. In
many fields we see activity and even here in
our prosy sanctum, while We think Of what
is going on in tho country, we can almost
hear the merry pillow boys whistle, though we
may not quite distinguish the milkmaids
song. In Toledo there is life and business oil
the time. Here the changes Of the season
make but little difference. except in trifling
affairs. Winter turns to summer; and mud
turns to dust;a few scattering trees leaf a few
flowers bloom, and little door yards Of our
neighbors grow green; furs turn to straw;
heavy wooden to linen pants; hot punches to
ice cool lemonade; shivers to sweats, heavy
games Of bsse ball; ladies promenading; and
Toledo life 10 about all told. Week in and week
out We sec the same brick walls, the same
sign boards, the same faces, FORMS hurrying
along eur Streets and the merry halloa, Of our
school boys and girls; but on the farms where
nature reigns, she changes the face Of the
earth and the work Of men with each revolv.
ing seasons. On the farm winter locks ur
the business places and the dwellings at the
same time. A path cannot be shovelled
through the snow to the fields, and q brass
key unlock its doors that the farmer may pass
on to bis work; but he must bide his time in
recreation and ease, until spring shall come
along, and with gentle hands remove the bars
This DONE the business hour is up in earn.
est. The freside talks must close for q time
turkey roasts and neighborly visits must be
suspended, and Congress and Andy Johnson
left to take Of themselves. The boys must
quit sparkling, and attendance at singings &c
for the busy time hath come, there is blowing
and crops to put in. Tho glorious moonlight
rides with the merry rosy >cheeked farmer,
girls, must be exchanged for weary trudgsi
over the plowed soil, and the slight fantastic
toe" which trippsd 90 merrily and lightly, in
the joyous dance, must now trip over the elod,
in the furrow, to the music Of "Gee" anl
"Haw." This sudden substitution Of bust.
ness for pleasure is no pleasure to tho boys
We kno W, but then the time for labor to q
hand and there is no appeal. We have been
fsrmer boy; and know how hard it goes to
turn out to work, after q season Of fun and
frolic. We know how sore the feet are and
how the logs ache after the first day blowing
and how often We wished we could 60 to town
and wear good "store Clothes and be Z
counter hopper, and strut around and be .
gentleman, as ws saw many loafsrs doing
Boys farming 10 pretty hard work; it is rather
tough to feed the stock when tho thermomo'
ter below zero; ''rake off and ''shock up" anG
pitch hay when the weather is hot as blu,
blazcs. But after oil boys, the farm is tn
best place, every sensible man will tell 70,
thst-msn sxpsriencedin both town and coun
Try life, and who have not done their blowing
with pen on paper, and raised their fin.
stock and big crops in the columns Of som,
agricultural paper. Then stick 10 the farm
this is old advice, but good, work hard, grow
healthy and strong, and when the time comes
for you to lssvs the old homestead, for city o,
town to study law, ministry or medicine, and
60 to Congress the people will call on you.