Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-07-25
AGRICULTURAL.
From the Maryland Farmer.
Young Men Don't Leave the Farm.

Should the following article, land which is
matter of actual occurrence) be deemed wor-
thy ola place in your very interesting maya
zine, it is Mt your service.
Some forty-iivc or fifty miles back from one
Of our large commercial cities, there lived two
very respectable and well-to-do farmers They
had farms adjoining each other, and their
families were SO intimate, that they might al
most be said 10 be one and the same family
Each Of these gentlemen had n son, and they
were very nearly Of the same age, there being
but few months difference in the same.
These two boys, having been raised togeih-
en-, had become Gas was very natural3 very
much attached 10 each other they had played
together, they had been TO school together,
and they had always kept company together,
so they seemed more like one person than two.
And yet, they were far from being alike in
their dispositions.
One day when they were taking walk out
together, Charles said TO John, John, do you
know have strong idea of going to -
city, and enter as clerk, and become mer-
chant, for farming is such drudging kind of
business, do notlke it, and no one can ever
become much who follows it. 1t is all toll,
bat very little pleasure and less profit" This
announcement very much astonished John, COR
he had calculated that they would spend their
days together on their respective farms.
He therefore made use of all the arguments
in his power TO persuade Charles from (what
he considered very visionary his idea of leav-
ing his fathers farm, and venturing upon a
city life. But Il was all of no use; Charles
bad made up his mind that farming was a dull
business, and he would go 10 town, where he
would become somebody in the world.
His father, having more ambition than good
sense, being acquainted with dry goods mer-
chant in the city, sent his son, with a letter of
introduction to him. The merchant received
him very cordially, and took him as clerk ;
the terms were that for the yfrst year he must
pay his own expenses, which amounted to
$500, and which he had TO call on his father
to pay, and which took all that his father
cleared that year from his farm. The next
year he received $500 salary but then his
idea Of tigiag had so marvellously increased
that he was obliged to call on his father for
$500 more. The next year was the same for
although his salary was increased, also his
ideas of living increased, and he was obliged
to call on his father for help In the third
year, he made visit home in the country
and as he wentup with a very flashing team,
as he was getting near his home, be met his
IL Iab n
load of wood but being so elevated in his
ideas Of things, he let John pass without re-
cognizing him, altho' he knew him very well
After q short visit home, he returned to
town aud in the sixth year became partner
la the firm where he had been clerk His
great business, and soon be very rich man,
advanced him all the money he had, (Which
was some s., 900 or Sc, 600, and then waited
the result. The result was, the concern burst
up, Charles and his father lost their money,
and Charles was exceedingly glad TO get back
into the country on the farm, and what he
once thought drudge he found now TO be
the moss pleasant business he could pursue,
and not so very proftlcss either.
But his greatest astonishment was, that he
found his old boy companion, John, instead
of having lost everything, had So, 900 in the
bank, and a half interest in his fathers farm.
Charles never passed John after that without
recognizing him.
My young friends in the country, if you
have good farms there don't leave them to
come to town, thinking you will suddenly be-
come rich, and make so much money you win
have nothing to do but to spend it; remember
Charles, and he is only a type of thousands Of
young men who leave good homes in the coun-
try, and come TO town with the vain idea OF
making fortune. Stick to your farms, then.
A. D. ].