Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-08-26
sglomth's Column.
UNCLE JOE'S TALK WITH THE
BOYS.

those boys who are thinking of leaving
home. You are anxious to push out for
yourselves. In many instances there are
younger brothers in the family, and you
think the farm hardly enough for all.
Those who live in the East are anxious
to go West, and those who live in what
is termed the West desire to 60 still fur
Their toward the setting sun. At any
rate, as you look at it, it seems desira-,
BILE in order to succeed that you get as
far as possible away from home. No
doubt many young men have done as
well, if not better, by casting themselves
among strangers; they have worked
harder, and denied themselves more
than they would have done at home.
But it is very important step, and one
which will pay you to look all over be-
fore you take it. If you intend to go
among friends of your family, or with
company of your townspeople, it will
make it much better, but to start out all
alone, and throw yourselves among
strangers in distant State is a "hard
row to hoe" 1t is true you may be
successful, but the chances are all
against you, and it is quite likely you
will hear the cry of "hard times" no
matter which way you travel. Taking
it all in all, as things stand now, there
is little difference in favor of one part
of the country over another.
The man who works an Eastern farm
will have many days of hard labor in the
course of the year on land that don't
yield much, but on the other hand he
has a good market, and can sell at a
fair price all from the fam he wishes to
sell; he will live as we'll and his home
will be as pleasant and we'll furnished
as that of the Western farmer; the
chances of his children getting good
education are as fair, if not better, than
in many parts of the West. The only
advantage there seems to be is that if
you have little money when you are
at your journeys end, and know how to
take care of it, you can do more with it
than at the East. But if you have no
money, and must 60 to work for any one
who will hire your time, you will find
that in order to get into the condition
you wish to be, will require much hard
work and self-denial. And when, in
future years, you visit your old home,
you may be likely to find that those of
your early companions who remained
there have done about as well, land some
how, you will be apt to think, have far
ed little better. Doubtless much of
this changing about" in our country is
owing in great measure to our restless
disposition. Mr.. Greeley remarked
while making his overland journey to
California, as he passed many emigrants
to that Eldorado. and about as many
coming back, that he didn't think there
was another such restless, uneasy peo-
pie on the face of the globe.
To the boy who has become dissatis.
fed with his home and its wholesome
restraints who thinks he is hindered
from being all he could be; who thinks
the family are no help to him; who
speaks of his father and mother as sold
man" and sold woman" who is deter
mined to leave home whether they are
willing or not-allow me to say, in all
kindness. you are getting yourself into
a bad shape. Such thoughts are poison
T if you continue to cherish them no one
will suffer more than yourself. Nothing,
absolutely nothing, can be done to better
your condition while you are IN such
frame of mind. AS has been said be.
fore, in order to be successful you will
have to move with much caution; all
the good counsel your family can give
you will be so much clear gain. So lei
me entreat you to get rid of the thought
that they are not willing to help you tc
be all that you can be. When you g
among strangers you will find, for {
long time, that the community have only
taken you on trust. There may be
nothing wrong about you; we will al
low that you are all right, but some one
has said that confidence is a plant o.
slow growth" so you see if you g
among strangers you must for awhile
stand before the people "on trial" i
the time ever comes when good men ar,
obliged to "let 60 of you" it will be /;
cad dav for uou