The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1871-01-07
Objectionable Farm Help.

In nothing do farmers run a greater FISK
than in the employment of hired men who
are to work with their son in the cult
vation of the farm and, 1t must be con.
fessed, that in few things do they mani
fest so little concern When it comes
time to commence spring work, the rule Is
to engage the first man that comes along,
providing he will work for the wages
offered, and providing, also, he appears to
hive the requisite physical qualifications
to enable him to use the spade, pillow or
pitchfork. Some questions may he asked
about the candidates experience in farm
ing but with these all catechising ceases,
and a bargain Is struck. Is the stranger
APPLYING TO YOU for employment freshly
discharged from a Jail or penitentiary 7
Was he convicted of vagrancy or Of some
crime against society by the police court in
some large city, and judgment suspended
forty .eight hours providing he would leave
town. Is he grossly immoral, ir%religlous,
Incorporate or licentiousY Is he vulgar,
indecent or profane in his language IN
too many cases no answer Is sought to
these and equally important questions.
Now, this same farmer, who shows so
little interest in ascertaining the moral aud
intellectual character of the man who is to
form a part of his household, and who Is
to be the intimate companion Of his sons,
would be much more particular and much
more diligent In his inquiries II he was
about to purchase a horse, albeit he did not
expect to keep him six months, and was at
liberty to trade him oT in a weeks time.
He would satisfy himself that the horse
that was to pillow his corn, draw the manure
from his stable, and carry his grist TO mill,
was not vicious. The disposition Of the ami
nal in relation to jumping fences, kicking,
baking, would be a subject of earnest In.
quiry. This farmer who thinks that he
can take the measure Of a man morally
and intellectually, as well as physically, by
simply locking at him, will not. trust 80
much to his eyesight when he comes to
buy a horse. A horse which is to mate
another In a team for blowing, and be
turned into a pasture with a lot Of colts,
must have a character. lie must be m
upright horse as well as q strong and docile
one.
Few persons are ever placed in q posi-.
ton to exercise so much influence over
the manners and morals of farmers boys,
as are the hired men who are put to labor
with them In the field. They enjoy a fa-
miliarity and an equeiiiy with them such
as is seldom found In other pursuits. As
a rule the greater strangers they are when
they come on the farm, the greater will be
their opportunities for evil. Country boys
are fond of new corners, and manifest great
curiosity in learning about their previous
pursuits and companions. They are quick
to pick up slang phrases, and are often
easy subjects to be taught vice and immor-
ality. The farmer, himself, Is often away
on business or Is employed in superintend
ing affairs at q distance from his mi and
his hired men. At such times there are
free opportunities for the corrupt influence
of "eyil communications" Again, the
hired men often share the same apartment
at night with the boys Of the family, so
that by day and by night, while at work
and at rest, the boys and the hired men are
together.
1t matters little how wisely the father
may direct his household, how tenderly
the mother may watch over the moral and
social development of her sons they are
almost sure to fall the prey to pernicious
habits and to evil conversation, If an
worthy men are placed with them as labor
ers. A good woman once said to the
writer Of this article, 81 send my Sons to
your school to receive an instruction, and
am more than satisfied with their adj
vancement but | am sorry TO say that the
boys in the street educate them" The
counterpart Of this may be found on many
Western farms. where the boys have re-
fined parents and are sent to good schools.
Their companions on the farm are slovenly
in their appearance, uncouth in their man.
ners, lax In their morals, and profanc in
their language.
This state Of things will be 90 till farm
ers exercise as much Judgment and mani
fest rs much scrutiny in the selection of q
man as they do in the selection Of q horse
that Is to work on the farm, II will re
main as II Is now till farmers are willing
to pay more per month TO a man Of goot
habits than 70 o man Of loose or bad ones
Farmers must offer an incentive 10 sobri
ETY., morality and TO correct department
Until then hired men may think like tn
honest Hibcrnian soldier In the old day
Of low pay In the regular army. Hc re
Piled to the officer that upbraided him 70
appearing on parade In q state Of intoxlca
ton, Vow can you expect 0 nan to prac
tice all the cardinal virtu@s for seven dol