Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
II / We're n Boy Again.
ny JAMES 7. FIELDS,


II 1 We're Boy Again.
JAMES 7.
Let me tell you, my young friends some
of the things | would do if were a boy
again some of the too often neglected acts
| would strive to accomplish if it were in
my power to begin all over anew. would
learn the art of using tools of various sorts.
think would insist on learning some
trade even if knew there would be no &C.
casion to follow it when | grew up. What
pleasure it is in after life TO be able to
make something, as the saying is; to con-
struct neat box to hold ones pen and pa
per or pretty cabinet for sisters library
or to frame afavorite engraving for Christ
mas present to a dear, kind mother. What
loss not to know how to mend chair that
refuses to stand up strong only because it
needs few tacks and bit of leather here
and there. Some of us cannot even drive
nail straight, and should we attempt to
saw off an obtrusive piece of wood, ten to
one we should lose finger in the operation.
| think | would ask permission-if had
happened to be born in city-to have the
opportunity of passing all my vacations in
the country, that | might learn the names
of trees, and flowers, and birds. We are, as
people, sadly ignorant of all accurate
rural knowledge. We guess at many country
things, but we are certain of very few. 1t is
inexcusable in a grown-up person, like my
amiable neighbor Simpkins, who lives from
May to November on a farm of sixty acres,
in beautiful wooded country, not to know
maple from beech, or bobolink from
cat-bird. He once handed me a bunch of
pansies, and called them violets, and on
another occasion he mistook sweet peas for
geraniums. What right has human being,
while the air is full of bird-music, to be
wholly ignorant of the performers name
When we go to the opera, we are fully posted
up with regard to all the principal singers,
and why should we know nothing of the
owners of voices that far transcend the vo-
cal powers of Jenny Lind and Christine
Nilsson A boy ought also to be at home
in barn, and learn how to harness horse,
tinker up wagon, feed the animals, and do
hundred useful things, the experience Of
which may be Of special service to him in
after life as an explorer or traveller, when
unlooked-for emergencies befall him. If |
were boy again, would learn how to row
boat and handle SAIL and above all, how
to become proof against sea-sickness. |
would conquer that malady before ! grew to
be fifteen years old. 1t can be done, and
ought to be done in youth, for all of us are
more or less inclined to visit foreign coun-
tries, either in the way of business or men,
tai improvement, to say nothing of pleasure.
Fight the sea-sick malady long enough and
and it can be conquered at very early age.
OF course every Young person now.a.days,
male or female learns to swim and 60 no
advice ON that score need he nroffered but
if were n bow again. | would learn TO float
| half n dav If necessary in MS rougb n bit
of water as | could find on our beautiful
coast A how of fifteen who cannot keer
his head and legs all right In a stiff sea
ought tory until he can' No lad in these
DAYS ought 10 drown-if he can helm I'll
would keen :. better hours" if | were a hoy
AGAIN that is. I would 90 tn he'd earle,
than most bows do. Nothing gives MS NOR,
mental and 'hodiIv vigor iran sound resi-
ubar pronerlv annl;ad Sleen 10 our oreat
ranlonisber and Il ,ya peglact 10 taRa i,
natnralIv in childhood ali The worse for n.
When we GROW nm II wa go IN had early
wa r;nen IL we Iii nm late we decay. and
| soorar ar l.tar ,,a contract disease called
;nso,on;o allowing II 10 ha narnanentl,
fxed mon ne and then we begin 10 decay
ever IN yontb ata hours are sbadow.
from the grave. If were n bow again.
would have Hank hook in which comic
record before going 10 he'd every dav,,
events inst nc thew bannened 70 me ner
sonallv IF I began nv writing only two
lines n dav in mS diory. would start m,
little hook and fa;tbfnllv mt down VIVA,
bsnnaned 10 Interest ma IN ;ts noges
wnnId note down the HABITS of birds and an
;mals az I saw them and If the horse fell in
dnyn sboriJ ao b;s ,naladv in INV hoot anr
What cured Inn should go there loo If III,
cat or Tho doa showed anv necwliar traits
thew sbonlJ ali be cbronicIed in NV diary
AMI notbina worth record;ng sboni3 oscar,
me There are hundreds Of things I wonI'
onrroot in NV ijfa IL raro :. Lo,, o',a;n an,
oo,nno, thon' L. th;s osnac;aI go no nj,
ha LIZ s" noraf,1 VI NV taeth Saai, " enc,
hnUa oro,v, ~, NJ hoy n,y ,ouoh onffar;pS, 10 IN
duced bS tbe hal habit Of conslantlv eat;n,
oanSias o ' othar s.aot nn;san"as ,"omis
ohmt nv "mn anth 70 al, aiurornenas of tha
o ona' Vern J hot and noru ooId snhotances
would stndionsly avoid Toothacbe in On
onm,'tr,, ~ ano 81 ,ho rat;onoI or;,,as Hal