The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-06
FARM AND GARDEN.


Why the loys Leave The Farm.
The farm ofle.l has no attraction for thC
boys for several reasons. One Is because
their tastes and opinions are not consulted
enough. Another is that from the time they
are twcnty.0ne, II Is apt 70 be work work
from morning Till night, the year round
without hope of other reward Than their
board and clothes. The father seldom con.
suits his son in regard to his plan about the
farm, and as the boy grows older, he cares
very little abOutthem. After the work of the
day. the boys come in and want something to
do; they have been at work all day and their
muscles are tired, but their brains have been
resting all day and are pIning for exercise.
They lock around and perchance see paper
full of politics, Or Il paper whose columns
are filled with local news of trivial import
ancc which they have read over and over
but see no books which tend to enlightcn the,
mind and elevate the soul having nothing
else to do, they 90 down to the village, and
t ere they soon learn to smoke chew ana
swear with dissolute companions. After
time they come into contact with one OF those
follows who has been off TO seek his fortune
and come home dead broke to live on his
friends. They listen to the stories OF adyen
lures by land and sea, anu since they nave
seen little of the world outside Of their native
town, believe all he says; and as they have
seen none of the advantages of farmers
life, but all its disadvantages, they are dis
gusted with it, and resolve to get away from
home and try their fortune in other parts.
Here they make great mistake for they
have no Cdscation, no trade. 10 money, and
are perfectly friendless in the great world :;
and the vices of their boyhood still cling to
ing knocked about from place to place, until
hard work and debauchery have broken their
constitutions, they return to their native town,
homeless, pennlless, friendless, to drag
through few more years, and then sink into
the grave, with few to mourn their loss or take
warning by their example.
In order 10 make them stay on The farm,
you should get them interested III farm work,
tell them your plans ask their opinion, and
when they have given it, ask them why they
think so and so, and what has led them to such
conclusion Draw oui their thoughts, buy
them books, take some good agricultural and
literary papers. Perhaps you will say that
you have not the money to spend for these
things; but stop moment and consider how
much it has cost you for tobacco for the past
year, and then resolve that you will never
touch another particle of the weed, which
has been the means of clouding your brain
and darkening your intellect for many years;
take the money which you will thus save in
this. and purchase some books, not those
trashy, yellow.covered things, but books
written by our best authors, no matter what
they treat on, whether it be farming or as
trOnOmy; get something that will interest
your sons. Once get them to reading, and
they will take TO books like ducks to the wa
ter; instead of spending their hours at the
village tavern, they will be storing their minds
with useful knowledge, that will be OF inf.
mite value t. them us they grow up. As soon
as they begin to read books on agriculture,
they will want to Try experiments for them.
selves. Let them have good piece OF ground,
help them to pillow and get it ready, and then
tell them to go ahead. Ii they come to you
for advice, give it; but do not tell h m they
must do this, and they must not do that, for
they have quick perceptions, and if your ad-
vice is good they vii soon find il out and fol
low it, Soon they will begin to talk about
fixing up the house little, and setting out
some fruit and shade trees. A coat of paint,
a few new blinds, and numerous other little
attractions render your house hardly rccAy.
nizable 10 one who saw it year ago. although
your purse has not been made much lighter
by the outlay Then go to the woods and get
some trees, and plant them around the house,
and IN a few years they will make delight.
full shade, which you can enjoy on hot mid
summers day. Next help the girls to pre-.
pare some flower beds, which Will add Won
derfuly to The beauty of your ground Next
plant hedge in place Of the DID, broken
down fence ia front of the house, and other
improvements Of like lriilng cost will follow
in due time, tie carrying out Of which will
render y0ur home lovely spot which your
children would never for a moment think of
exchanging for city home, and where YOU
can live out the remainder of your days in
peace, and go down to the grave having bid
farewell to your children joined in love and
harmony around your couch--7'oJey Faster,
in Gentry Teatlcm0n.