Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-06-26
Correspondence,
For the VERMONT FARuER.
NOW AND THEM.

Then, how obstinately the mass Of those
old-timc farmers shut their eyes against the
light! They had their hands and hoes and
pows and oxen, what use had they for
brains or brain work, for agricultural books
or papors2 They closed their doors against
knowledge, and put up their bars and pad
locked their gates against the innovations Of
science. 1t was work they wanted Of the
girls in the house and work they wanted Of
the boys in the field. Aud the boys and girls
did work, but they were looking and listen
ing, too-aud thinking. Looking with great
longing toward the distant and forbidden
light listening to the sound of new life
waking in the world without, and thinking,
not as they should have been taught to do,
how they might kindle new fires on their
own hearthstonos, how they might be some
thing but the exact copy of past genera
ton; not how they might open the gate of
prejudice to let in something Of the life that
from without SO tempted them I; but only Of
the day when they should be legally free
from parental control, and at liberty to turn
their backs upon the old homestead and mo-
notonous drudgery of farm life forever.
Reader, this is not simply pen-picture,
it is real, living fact it is just what thou
sands of farmers sons aud daughters have
done, and will do till farmers as class are
willing TO welcome improvement; to seek for
light, and to use il when they get it.
No,o, and gladly we write it, we see an
opening, light breaking through the cloud.
We sec that farmers are approaching bet
ter condition gradually, are learning individ-
ually that changes, innovations, improve
ments, are going on everywhere else, why
not in the fields and household of the farm
or as we'll? Now, class of farmers have
come and are fast coming upon the agricul-
tural stage who are awake to the fact that
they must keep apace with the times that
they must admit science and intellect into
their fields and barn-yards, where they want
the boys to work that brains must be en-
ployed as well as the hands, else they will
bid farewell to the old-homc, as generations
past have done. Once it was thought that
brains were not needed at all in connection
with farming operations. Work was the
main thing, and anybody strong and healthy
could do that. 1t did very well, perhaps,
in those quiet old times when one generation
trudged on after another oblivious Of the
existence Of elements in water, earth, air,
that were waiting but the electric touch of
science to make them burst forth into the
blaze Of light, flash after flash, which has
startled the agricultural world with develop
ments during the past generation.
Consider your son joint partner in the
acres he helps to till aud the stock you
raise let him feel his responsibility. Give
him cali, sheep, colt, pig, something
to call his own, anything with substance
enough to establish proprietorship in, and
add to this n patch Of ground with time
and means for its cultivation, and let the
proceeds be the boys own. Try this, farm
ers ; these little attentions and concessions
Of right will work wonders toward de-
veloping a lads manliness, and attaching
him to the occupation and homestead of his
father. NJ.
Waits RiUer, June II.