Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-01-01
From Hearth and Home.l
How TO Keep Farmers Boys at Home.

Hon. Levi Stockbridge, of the Massa-
chusetts Agricultural College, who asks
the pertinent question above, and an
swers it in the article which follows, is as
competent to handle it as any of our ac-
riculturists. As the manager of the State
farm, he has displayed tact and wisdom
in getting cheerful work cut of tho boys.
One secret of his success is not alluded to
in the article. He does not say, " Go,
boys" but 60 Come bows" When there
is work to be done, his coat is on the
fence and he leads the gang:
"To answer this question understand
ingly and effectively, it is best first to ex
anime and define some of the causes that
are operating to induce our boys to leave
the farm for other pursuits. In the first
place, some boys, like some men, do not
possess an active, energetic temperament,
but are inclined TO be INDECENT. The in
stincts of such prompt them to select a
pursuit which they think will give the M
a liberal support without much exertion
of mind or body. But the boy, from
the first dawn of his intellect, has perhaps
had it impressed upon his mind inefface-
ably that life on the farm is one of ex-
hausting labor, hardship, and toll. He
hears no other idea respecting it advanced
in the family and community where he
resides, and accepts it as matter of
course, and forms bis plans accordingly.
But, again; man is an accrmulative
animal. He possesses the desire to
hoard, if not for himself alone, We; for the
qualification which his accumulations will
secure him. The boy possesses this facul-
ty equally with the man, and it is not d.
rected by judgment and experience.
Now, the very father who is complaining
that he cannot keep his boy on the farm
has very ligeIy taught him, from his in
fancy up, that farming is poor business,
that it does not pay for the care and Ia
Dor bestowed, that it is only by the strict
est economy, perhaps self-denial, that he
can make his ends meet; and if he gets
ahead az all, it is little by little, few
dollars in year, and lifetime of labor
on the farm is necessary to secure suffi-
cient for support in the decline of age.
The boy learns the lesson, and he remem-
bers it. But he sees merchants. traders,
spectators, and professionals rolling in
apparent wealth, acquired quickly and,
he thinks, easily, and with longing, be
desires TO 90 and do likewise. Another
fruitful cause of the evil complained of
is, that very many of our farmers are ig-
norant of, or do not fully appreciate, the
character of their boys, in all its noble
ness, in the breadth and scope of their
nature, and are equally ignorant of what
their calling is, and of the great and va
ried store of knowledge necessary for its
successful, intelligent prosecution. They
are not aware that their boy thinks, and
reasons, and thirsts for knowledge, and
desires to know the why and wherefore
of all the mysterious changes and opera
tons that are going on around him,
while they are only intent on his per-
forming an allotted task of labor. AS
they take the STRIPPING to the field, they
impress upon him the hard fact that he
has something to do, and not something
to learn. This impression is strengthen
ed with bis strength, and grows with his
growth, until he comes to feel that he is
valuable and useful in the business of the
farm precisely as are the horses and cat
tlei that his toughness of muscle and
power of endurance are the measure of
his importance, and not the intelligent
understanding and comprehension of his
calling. He becomes aware that the
best part of his nature is being smother
ed or crushed out of him, aud his soul
revolts at the idea and the business
which begets it.
"But home influences, and those of
nature and ignorance, are not the only
ones that are doing their balefuI work in
this line. In many cases, the teacher in
the primary-school is the first to give the
evil lesson and the wrong incline. The
boy pupil there, if he is quick to learn
and intellectually active, is often distinct
ly taught that he is too smart and good
to be farmer; that tilIing the soil is too
mean business for one so bright that
be can do better in some other way, for
by culture be may hope to obtain an