The Ottawa free trader., 1873-07-12
FARM AND GARDEN.


The subject of why the sons of farmers 50
often desire to leave the farm for city life some
which, though continually discussed, has al
way, something fresh to be said of it, There
IT, however, not so much disnclinatOn to
farm life rs is represented; and where the
diSinClinatIon exists, those who complain of
it very of ten have only themselves to blame.
The fact is there has been too much said on
HE mere money aspect of life, and too little
about the pleasures which money is to bring,
The greater part of our farmers have made
The making and accumulation Of money their
sole aim. The real comforts and pleasures OF
life are too often sacrificed TO the barren
knowledge that so much money has been
made.
In one of the writer's ramblcs through the
RoCky Mountains Il few years ago he came
on n settler many miles away from any other
human habitaton. All alone in this wilder
ness he had established II stock ranch, and
hC was earnest in describing his great success
and in detailing how well off he was. lie had
left one Of our great Eastern cities years be
fore, commencing his new career with little
or nothing. Now he had hundreds of heads
Of cattle and sheep by the thousand. He was
indeed rich-not, perhaps, in actual cash. but
in cash value. When he started on this race
tor wealth it was with the intention of re.
turning TO civilization when he had made a
competency" to enjoy the fruits of his years
of adventurous toll But with time he found
IN those wild mountains all he wanted. His
rifle for the mountain lion and goat the bison
and antelope, was dearcr to him than thou
sands of dollars. He and his family had
everything they seemed to wish for Once in
awhile an oX-team went Il few hundred miles
south TO Ell Paso, and the few little knick
naCks that wild nature did not furnish them
we're thus supplied. Neither he nor his wife
or young family seemed to have any desire
whatever to return to the cultivated world
again, Yet he looked on his increasing
wealth of stock and means with plasure; and
insisted that right there, some 10000 feet
above the level of the sea, was the best place
in the world to "makc money"
We who looked on and listened could hard.
ly understand why he dwelt on the money
argument lie had few wants that were un-
Supplied and though the huge granite hills
were mountains of grcCnbaCkS he could find
no use for more.
This, after all, is the philosophy of farm
life. We may not make so much, but then
we do not need so much. There is beauty in
tasteful dress and pleasure in many varied
works of art, which make up much of city
life. But much of this is mere fashion and
not taste; and it is safe to say that Of every
half of it has to be spent in obedience to in
oXorable social demands; = and not that it gives
the slightest pleasure in return. On the other
hand, there are thousands who do not make, |
and yet must spend. 1t will not do to be a
nobody in a city crowd; and unless we are
" like our neighborS" we arc nobodies of the !
worst kind.
Let, then, farmers teach their children that |
it is life, and not mere money, which is the
great thing to live for To live well-to enjoy |
life intelligently, usetully, happily-is all that
money should be for and if we get all this |
without having first to work hard for money |
without the money-it is so much added to |
The wealth of life
\ young man on the farm should aim to |
become rich. He should carefully study bust |
ness habits, and apply them to farm life. He
will find use for all the money he will ever han
dlc; and if he has the proper knowledge and
business tact he will find that farm life is as
good as any moncymaking pursuit; but not
TO forget that money is only to buy happiness
with, and that the materials for this happiness
abound in farm life to an infinite degree over
city life, and only need the proper cultivation
which the race for mere money has long dis !
%uisCd.- -PhU0delphtd Press