Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-10-23
Farmers, H0mea.


90 think too much of the farm and
too little Of the farm house, to spend
too much time and labor on the general
farm and on the barn, and too little on
the garden and home mansion, to give
too much attention to the hogs, cattle
and horses, and too little to the wife
and children. There is q feeling of
dissatisfaction too generally noticeable
with life on the farm, not only among
the sons and daughters, but the wives
Of farmers. It is too often the case
that while the farmer and his wife are
struggling from year to- year. to make
money and improve the farm, their
sons and daughters are constantly
learning to dislike and absolutely hate
the occupation and oil the surround
ings of their parents. They are con-
stantly painting to themselves the less
laborious and more agreeable and pro-
fitable occupations, and the more
cheerful and happy homes Of thier
comrades and aoQuaintances in the
neighboring towns and cities, and
longing for the day to come when they
can throw off life of drudging and
unsatisfying servitude and 60 to the
store and counting honse, the factory,
or to some OF the over-crowded profess
ions, where they can enjoy more leisure
and more privileges than they know
how to find on . farm. Now the only
way to remedy this state of THINGS, this
great evil of rural life, is to make home
on the farm more attractive and ENJOY
able.
The door yard, the flower and vege-
table garden; the house; both outside
and in, should be rendered objects of
interest and affection to the children
from the very moment they are old
enough to feel that interest anil exer-
else that affection. In she house let
them have their playrooms, the toys
and pictures, their sewing and patch
work, their states and pencils, their
saws and hammers. Let them be
taught that these things are all their
own; that they are articles of real
value, to be handled and used with
care and for a valuable purpose al
ways being careful to explain in an in.
teresting manner their uses and their
objects. In the garden and around the
house let each child, as soon AZ he or
she is old enough, help in planting q
fruit-bearing tree or . vine for orna-
ment. Let these also be their own in
name and in fact. Teach them how to
prune and cultivate them, and:the rea-
son Of leach particular operation. When
these bear fruit let it's proceeds also be
theirs. Advise with, not command,
them how to spend OF what to do with
these proceeds. The ornamental shrub
should also be an object of especial
care, and the child be led to appreciate
1t and its pleasures and uses. In short
let the boys and girls, to the fullest
extent possible, become part owners in
the farm, its orchards, its groves, the
stock, the fowls, the house, the garden
and everything about them. Begin
when the children are small to treat
them as reasonable beings, and as soon
% they Can read and understand, fur
nish them with books that explain in q
simple and interesting manner the very
things that will be the most value for
them, as sons and daughters of far.
mer, to know when they are larger.
Make the boy man and the girl a
woman, and let them feel that they are
responsible for their acts as soon as
practicable. Let them feel that, while
they are working for your good, it is
not for yours alone, bnt their own as
we'll. Do not compel, but induce them
to work. Have always in the house q
family room. Make it attractive to
each and all the family. Think more,
work less hours, but to greater advan.
tage. Cultivate kindly feelings to ward
your neighbors; meet often with them
in the fashioned neighborhood
visiting circle. Become member OF
the grange. Take your wife and SONS
and daughters along and have them
become menbers, and at the meetings
be social. Give others the benefit OF
your knowledge, and determine that
you will make your home attractive
and happy, and 60 about it and make
your determination q rcality.-Sacra.
naent0 Record.