The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-07-27
Saving and Toiling for the Boys.

Extravaganza is sin; economy vir-
tue; are maxims which sensible people
heed in all the walks of life. As rule
there is little of what can be called extrav.
agance among the agricultural class.
Neither parents nor children can be
charged with reckless expenditure of
money or property; on the contrary, agri-
nulturists are, in general, very saving and
economical. 1t can be easily proven that
they are rather too economical and self de-
nying for the honor of their calling and
the development of their own social and
mental qualities and powers. They spare
themselves no labor, but they deny them
selves almost altogether of things beyond
Farmers and their wives seldom leave the
homestead; seldom read anything beyond
a newspaper, and, we may say, never go
abroad to gain knowledge. These state
ments apply to mechanics also. Well, why
is this-why docs an entire class vol,lntari-
ly subject itself to such hard and constant
labor that its members find no leisure or
time for developing the higher faculties of
mind and heart? The reason is, they are
trying to accumulate and lay by something
for the boys and girls. They want to give
them start in life; place them away for
ward on vantage ground in this scrub
race for money making. Farms are bought
and other heavy burdens undertaken with
this object in view. Farmers who began
without dollar and struggled courageous
ly and faithfully to gain all income and a
homestead in their own ri ht and title for
their own support, are not content to let
their sons climb the same weary ascent.
They have gained competence for them
selves, and now strive to win another for
the next generation. In this kind of work
and economy there is a wavering
and doubtful virtue. Ordinarily there
is II two-fold evil attending such lifelong,
enslaving labor. Parents become mere
work machines; they lose the disposition
for social or mental culture; they are sat
isfed if the body is fed and warmed and
kept in working order. Secondly, the
children fail to acquire the stern habits of
industry, the self-rcliance, the courage,
the bodily strength, or mental power of
the parents. Toiling and saving for the
boys is, therefore, a very doubtful policy
when this must be done at sacrifice of
such precious interests-at a sacrifice of
mental culture, sacrifice of social stand.
| ing in the Nation, a sacrifice of knOwl-
edge to be gained only by going abroad
and mixing among Gods creation more
than the farmer does. We venture that
| the common experience of life on the
farm shows that boys and girls who re-
ceive no more than good education from
their parents turn out to be more useful
citizens and members of society than those
who neglect mental improvement and are
| furnished with homestead and appliances
complete to begin life in ease, knowing no
want and meeting with no trials. Heaven
has somehow connected nobility of life
and character with want and labor. He
who wants for nothing is aimless and in
ert. He whose material needs are all sup:
his better powers; choosing rather to lead
a life of comparative Incidence than to
engage in any hard mental labor, though
he has both the leisure and opportunity.
Do not, therefore, labor too much for the
boys, but devote more to self improvement,
in time and money.-Detroit Tribune.