The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-07-20
Uncle JOe's Talk With the Boys.

L would speak an earnest word to
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 fami-
ly, and you think the farm hardly large
enough for ALL Those who live in the
East are anxious to 90 West, and those
who live in what is termed the West
desire to 90 still further toward the
setting sun. At any rate, as you look
at it, it seems desirable in order to sue
coed that you get as far as possible
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 a very impor-
tant step, and one which will pay you to
look all over before you take it. If you
intend to 90 among friends of your
family, or with a company of your
| townspeople, it will make it much bet
ter, 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 differ
ence in favor of one part of the coun-
try over another.
The man who works an Eastern farm
will have many days of hard labor in
| the course of theyear on land that don't
yield much, but on the other hand he
has a good market and can sell at fair
price all from the farm he wishes to
sell; he will live as well and his home
will be as pleasant and well furnished
as that of the Western farmer; the
chances of his children getting a 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 left 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 90 to work
for anyone who will hire your time,
you will find that in order to oct into
the condition you wish to be will re-
quire much hard work and self-denal.
And when, in future years, you visit
your old home, you may be likely to
find that those of your early compan-
| ions who remained there have done
about as well and somehow, YOU will
be apt to think have Jared little bet
| ter. Doubtless much of this 'chanr-
ing about" in our country is owing in
a great measure to our restless dispo-
siliOn. Mr.. Greeley remarked, while
making his overland journey to Cali
fornia, as he passed many emigrants to
that EldOrado, and about as many
coming back, that he didn' think there
was another such restless, uneasy
| people 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 hindcred
from being all he could be; who thinks
the family are no help to him; who
speaks of his father and mother as
"old man. and cold woman" who
is determined to leave home whether
they are willing or nOt--allow me to
say, in all kindness, you are getting
| yourself into bad shape. Such thoughts
are poison; if you continue to cherish
them no one will suffer more than your
self. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can
be done to better your condition while
| you are in such a frame of mind. As
has been said before, in order to be sue
cessful you will have to move with
caution; all the good counsel your fam
lily can give you will be so much clear
gain. So let me entreat you to get rid
of the thought that they are not willing
to help you to be all that you can be.
When you 60 among strangers you will
find, for long time, that the COM
munity have only taken you on trust.
There may be nothing wrong about
you; we will allow that you are all
right, but some one has said that econ
fidence is plant of slow growth" so
you will see if you go among strangers
you must for a while stand before the
people son trial" If the time ever
comes when good men are obliged to
'let go of you'' it will be a sad day for
you.-N. Y. Tribune.