Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-08-08
agricultural.
BOYS As FARMERS.
A Capital sketch for Old Boys ana
Young Boys.

were not IO[ inc SHO'N'-
great comfort TO boy in the amount oi
work he can get rid of doing. It's some
times astonishing how slow he can 60 on
an errand, he who leads the school in u
race. The world is new and interesting
TO him. and there is SO much to take his
attention off when he is sent 10 do any
thing. Perhaps he couldn't explain, him
self, why, when he is sent to the neigh
boris after yeast, he stops to stone the
frogs; he is not exactly cruel, but he
wants to see il he can hitem. No other
living thing can go as slow as 4 boy sent
on an errand. His legs seem to be dead
unless he happens to espy a woodchuck
in an adjoining lot, when he gives chase
90 it ike a deer; and it is curious fact
about boys. that two will be great
deal slower in doing anything than one,
and that the more you have to help on a
piece of work the less is accomplished.
Boys have power in helping each other
DO nothing; and they are so innocent
about it and unconscious. IL went As
quick as ever could says one boy.
when his father asks him why he didn't
stay all night. when he has been absent
three hours on ten minute errand. The
sarcasm has no effect on the boy.
Going after the COWS was serious
thing in my day, | had TO climb Up a
hill which WAS covered with wild straw
berries in The season. Could any boy
pass by those ripe berries And then in
the fragrant hill.pasture, there were beds
of winter-green with red berries, tufts OF
columbine, roots of sassafras to be dug.
and dozens of things good 70 eat or to
smell. which could not resist. II some
times even lay in my way 10 climb tree
10 look for crows nest, or TO swing in
the top. or to see il could see the steeple
Of the village church. Ii became very
important sometimes for me TO see the
steeple; and in the midst of my investi-
cations the tin horn would blow a great
blast from the farm house, which would
send cold chill down my back in the
hottest days. i knew what il meant.
1t had frightfully impatient quayer in
it, not at all like the sweet note that call
ed Us TO dinner from the bayfield,. 1t
said: "Why on earth doesn't that boy
come home 1t is almost dark and the
cows amt milked!H And that was the
time the cows had to start into a brisk
pace and make up for lost time. | won.
der if any boy ever drove the COWS home
late. who did not say that the COWS were
st the further end of the pasture, and that
"Old Brindle was hidden in the woods,
and he couldn't find her for ever so long"
The brindle cow is the boys scapegoat
many a time.
No other boy knows how to appreciate
holiday as the iarm-boy does; and his
best ones are a peculiar kind. Going
fishing is of course one. The excitement
of rigging up the tackle. digging the bait,
and the anticipation of great luck; these
are pure pleasures because they are rare.
Boys who can 60 fishing any time, care
but little for it. Tramping all day
through the brush and briar, fighting
flies and mosquitoes, and branches that
tangle the line. and snags that break the
hook, and returning home late and hun
CRY. with wet feet aud string of speck-
led trout on willow twig. and have the
family crowd out at the kitchen door to
look at 'em, and say. pretty we'll done
for you. bub, did you catch that big one
yourself?" This is also pure happiness,
the like of which the boy will never have
again; not if he comes to be q selectman
and deacon, and to keep store"
But the holidays 4 recall with delight
were the two days in the spring and fall,
when we went to the distant pasture land,
in q neighboring town, may be, TO drive
hither the young cattle and colts, and to
bring them back again. 1t was wild
and rocky upland where our great pas
ture was, many miles from home, the
road to it running by brawling river,
and up dashing brookside among great
hills. What days adventure it was Ii
was like n journey TO Europe. The night
before | could scarcely sleep for thinking
of il; and there was no trouble about
getting me up ut sunrise that morning.
The breakfast WAS eaten, and the lunch
con packed in large basket.
l wish the journey would never end
but at last, by noon, We reach the pas
lures and turn in the heTd; and after
making the tour of the lots to make sure
there are no breaks in the fences, we
take our luncheon from the wagon and
eat it under the trees by the spring. This
is the supreme moment oil the day This
is the way to lie; this is like the Swiss
Family Robinson, and all the rest of my
delightful acquaintance in romance
Baked beans, iye-and Indian bread
(moisi, remember) doughnu,s and cheese
pie and root beer. What richness You
may live or dine Il, Delmonico's, or ut
Phillippe's in the Rue Moneorguell, in
Paris. where the good old Thackeray
used TO eat as good dinner as anybody
but you will get there neither doughnuts,
nor pie. nor root beer, nor anything rs
good as that luncheon ut noon in the old
pasture. high among the Massachusetts
hills Nor will Won ever If Won live To