Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1870-02-25
firm, Garaea s slJOtsehola.
A FARMER S STUDY.

Have you any room about the house that
answers the place Of study? Ii you have
not, you want one. Every farmer. who
claims to be anything else than zlere la
borer, needs a study as much as any Proies-
sional man does; aud for that matter, be re-
auires it more. The farmers home Is rot
ordinarily a very quiet one. There is much
work to do in it; there is the elatter of
milk pans; the noise of the eburn; the pratt
tie, if not the crying of the children. It is
hard for any one to make much headway in
mastering the contents of book, under
such circumstances Il is ''the pursuit Of
knowledge under difficulties An editor
might write, or a lawyer might study,
under such circumstances, because they
have become accustomed to intellect
ual labor amid noise and confusion.
Necessity compelled them to labor in this
way, but il took long time for them to be-
come masters of the situation. But for
farmer to do it, whose times for study are
limited, for the most part to rainy days iu
summer, or to the bleak, stormy seasons
Of winter, the thing is next to impossible.
He wants a eozy little room where he can
shut himself up with his books and papers
A farmers study need not be very large
or very expensive affair. A room fifteen
feet square would answer the purpose well.
Six book shelves, which should be perma-
nent; running across one side. would hold
respectable library and leave room for iles
Of papers, magazines, pamphlets and farm
account books A few pictures on the 9th
er side would do for adornment. a table
with drawers, a few chairs and stove are
all the furniture that is necessary. Twenty
FIVE dollars and few days work with the
plane and hand saw would fit itup
Such q room as this would be blessing to
every farmers household. The house would
be more orderly, because here would be
placed the books and papers that too often
are scattered about, and lost or ruin
ed. Rainy days and winter days would be
turned to as much account, with facilities
for study, as are the brightest days of sum-
mer. The disposition to leave the home for
the tavern or grocery would in many cases
be taken away, for the reason that there is
better place to spend time that cannot be
employed in out door work
Nor is 1t to the farmer alone that such a
room would be Of comfort and value. The
children could use it during the evenings
when they are attending school, and thus
derive more benefit from each term of school.
To the wife, too, such a room would be a
blessing. With her manifold cares and per-
plexities, with the odor of the cook room in
her nostrils, with the children cinging to
her skirts, how pleasant would such a room
be, in which to retire occasionally and read
book, peruse a newspaper or write letter
to friend.
Every thrifty, welto-do farmer, who has
provided warm stable for his horses, a con-
venient barn for his cattle and even a com
modious pen for his hogs and a kennel for
his dogs, can certainly afford place of re-
treat for himself It would result in having
a better planned farm. a better ordered
house, happier home aud cultured minds.
4 library of books will accumulate when
there is place to put them. Papers and
magazines will be preserved when there is a
place to put them on file, and spare time be
put tc good account when there is an oppor-
tunify to spend it without being interrupted
-Prairje Farmer.