Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-09-13
How to Keep Our noys at Home

| ANA now let us talk little about the
boys, whose future is so closely intorwoycn
With our omu happiness and well-beipg
And the first question we must ask is:
"What course shall we pursue to interest
them 10 tho work of farming7" That is
the chief topic to discuss; because, unless
We do make it for the interest of the boys to
rcmsin with us and pursue tho honorable
calling of their fathers and forefathcrs, they
will surely seek for plcasantcr places in the
large cities Often, though, their search is
unsuccessful; and after many years spent 10
Improbable labor, they may gladly return
to the old farm whose rocky hills and grceu
forests will then seem to them like the gar
den Of Eden. Therefore we should endca-
vor to mako the home attractive; to give a
CHEEKY appearance to the sitting room aud
the kitchen, and even to the boys chamber,
which so often is located in the attic or
upper chamber of the woodshcd, aud con.
tains nothing but the bare necessities of a
bed room-a bed, tablc, one or two choirs
and nails upon the door to hang the few
garments which are their only possessions
So let US commence with these chambers
first. Give upa few of tho comforts of the
rarely occupied guest chambers, if need be,
and cover the bare boards of tho floor with
some kind of carpet; or if that is not OBJ.
tainable. braid or knit some bright coored
rugs to spread beside the bed and 10 front
OF tho bureau or wash-stand Your sons
are becoming men now-arc l6, ]8, or 20
years old, as the casc may bc--and demand
at your hands u more comfortable apartment
than was needed in their childhood. Per
haps they possess desire for pretty things,
as well as your daughters; aud it is proper
desire and should be gratiGed in every
possible way. Their bed should be made
comfortable and the table should be covered
with spread. If it is knitted by your own
hands, or embroidered on linen by their
sisters, so much the better; for it shows
them that their pleasure and comforts are
akin 10 yours, and that you take delight in
making them happy Bright coIored chiutz
and cretonno can be procured at cheap
rates now; und by their aid, out of the
homeliest materials, such os old boxes and
barrels you can fashion comfortable chairs
and couches a p'ancd and neatly fitted
over barrel, and strong table will be tho
result which, when covered with cloth
answers every purpose. An ingenious boy,
with the aid of his mothers or sisters fin
gcrs, can fashion all sorts of pretty articles
at little expense, which will make his
chamber attractive and pleasant to himself
and his friends.
Then boys should be encouraged to work
with will, by presents Of colt, or calf,
or lamb. Even if they possess these
three varieties of stock it will not be an
injury to them, but decided advantage;
because the love ofpossession is inherent in
the human breast, and ifit is gratifcd, often
increases ones desire to be o: use in the
family, to do what is to be done with plea
sure, and as if it wcro playwork rather than
labor. Give your boy cock and half
dozen hens as his own property, and sec
with how much more zeal he will attend to
the needs of the poultry. Give him share
of the egg money, and see how many moro
dozens you will carry to market The
chief trouble with our boys is the want of
possession. They have no direct interest ia
the affairs of the farm, and 80 they take
little heed to its prosperity.
Again, it is well to encourage pleasant
society for them-to join the farmers clubs,
and the agricultural societies, and strive for
the prizes the latter offer. Cultivate good
manners as we'll ns good morals; and do not
ridicule your sons if they like to look we'll
dressed when they go into society, but give
them the means to do SO, and tell
them how nicely they appear. If farmers
would but pur0uo this course, the boorish-
ness and rusticity of their class would be
greatly diminished. 10 be sure, there arc
farmers in our midst who ore among the
best educated and the best bred men of New
England and their sons are boing trained
to grace furul life; but their number is
very small and it does not increase iu due
proportion to tho whole
[SprtnafeM Republican,
Agriculture the Wealth of the