Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1871-08-19
miscellaneous.
BOYS As FARMERS.
Capital sketch for Old Boys and
Young Boys.


There are so many bright spots in the life
ola iarm-boy, that | sometimes think
should like to live the life over again; |
should almost be willing to be II girl if it |
were not for the chores. There is great
comfort to IL boy in the amount of work he
can get rid of doing. 1t is sometimes aston
ishing bow slow he can go on i'm Grand he
who leads the school in II race. The world
is new and interesting to him. and there is so
much to take his attention off when he is |
sent to do anything. Perhaps he couldn't
explain, himself, why, when he is sent to the
neighbours after yeast, he stops to stone the
frogs; he is not exactly cruel, but he wants
to see if he can hit 'em. No other living
thing can 90 so slow as II boy sent on an er-
rand His legs seem to he dead, unless he
happens to espy II woodchuck in an adjoining
lot, when he gives chase to it like II deer;
and it is curious fact about boys, that two
will be II great deal slower in doing anything
than one, and the more you have to help on
II piece of work the less is accomplished.
Boys have II power in helping each other do
nothing; and they are so innocent about it
and unconscious. II went rs quick us ever
| could says one boy, when his father asks
him why he didn't stay all night when he
had been absent three hours on II ten minute
crrlnd. The sarcasm has no effect Oh the
boy.
Going after the cows was II serious thing
in my day. had to climb up hill which
was covered with wild Strawberries in the
season. Could any boy pass by those ripe
berries? And then in the fragrant hill-pas
turc, there We're beds of wintcrgreen with
red berries, tufts Of columbinc, roots Of sas-
safirs to be dug, and dozens Of things good
to eat or to smell which | could not resist.
1t sometimes even l;iy in my way to climb II
tree to look for II crows nest, OF to swing in
the top, or to see if could see the steeple of
the village church. 1t became very impor-
tant sometimes for me to see the steeple;
and in the midst of my investigations the tin
horn would blow II great blast from the farm
house, which would send n cold chill down
my back in the hottest days. knew what
it meant. 1t had II frightfully impatient qlia-
yer in it, not mt all like the sweet note that
called us to dinner from the bayfield,. 1t
said: "Why on earth doesn't that boy come
4 home? 1t is almost dark and the cows amt
milked.' And that was the time the COWS
had to start into II brisk pace and make up
for lost time. | wonder if any boy ever
drove the COWS home late, who did not say
that the cows were mt the further end of the
pasture and that "Old Brndle was hidden
in the woods, and he couldn't find her for ev-
cr so long" The brindle COW is the boys
scapegoat many II time.
No other boy knows how to appreciate IL
holiday rs the farm-boy does; and his best
ones are of peculiar kind. Going fishing is
of course one sort The excitement of rig
ging up the tackle, digging the bait, and the
; anticipation of great luck these are pure
pleasures, enjoyed because they are rare.
Boys who can go II fishing any time care but
little for it. Tramping all day through brush
and briar, fighting flies and mosquitoes, and
branches that tangle the line, and snags that
> break the hook and returning home late and
hungry, with wet feet and string of specklet
> trout on II willow twig, and have the f;lml,
crowd out ut the Kitchen door to look nt em