The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-07-26
FARMERs' BOYs.
BIZ MRS. L. b. ADAMS.


BIZ MRS. L. B. ADAMS.
No fact is>more evident among farming
communities tliAn that the boys almost uni
versally grow up with distaste for farm
pursuits. No sooner are they of age than
they turn to seek for more varied il not less
laborious duties Of town and city life. Thus
agriculture is yearly robbed OF what should
be it's strength and hope; the place these
boys should have been qualified to fill, and
should have filed, with the gathered wisdom
ofexperience aided by the light of progress
rive science, are left to doubtful experiments
ers; while aged parents, deserted at time
when flial care is most needed, can only look
upon their loneliness and say fthere must be
something wrong somewhere
Yes; in regard to farmers boys, there has
been something wrong great while. In
the first place, many of them never should
have been farmers boys at all, at least not
farm boys, though they may happen to have
been born upon farm. 1t is not every ma
ture, even among boys, that is or can be ac-
commodated te the requirements of such an
occupation, though parents are far too apt to
think that being boys farm is the only place
adapted to them, and the weapons best suit
cd to them in the warfare of life the shovel
and the hoe. Their physical, mental and
intellectual peculiarities are seldom taken in
TO consideration. The strong, rough nature,
the delicately organized, sensitive one, and
the one with craving hunger for the intel
lictual or scientific, are all kept together on
the farm that they may grow up and be
taught to wogk, cat OF temptations way.
The father Invests them like so much capi-
III on which he is to receive per diem in
tarest in the improvements Of his farm, and
works them to the limit of endurance under
sanction of short-sighted Interpretation of
" securing the greatest good to the greatest
number" The necessities Of the family, it
Is thought, justify the sacrifice of individu-
atty.
The usual expectation Is, that when the
pecuniary ends Of the farmer are accomplish
ed, or the boys grown out Of his hands, they
will accept portion Of SO many acres each,
and settle down to plod through the same
routine with the next generation. Much
seeming Wisdom and parental affection is thus
manifestedi but the wisdom too often proves
unwise, and the affection only mistaken
form Of well-developed selfshness.
Inc possioiiity Is that out OIL family Oh
three or five one may fulfil the desire of anx-
ious parents, accept the acres, and with the |
homestead in prospect, settle down to the
stay of their old age; but the greater proba- |
bility is, that as soon as legally free, Nature |
viii assert her claims in each, and they will |
60 out into the world seeking for the life that
should have been theirs through early years |
of ofpreparation for it: but having been cheat |
Cd OF their preparation, neither the world
nor parents need wonder il they come forth |
ill-deyeloued. discontented spirits. seeking |
their places and finding them not.
As farming has heretofore been considered |
8 business that any ignoramus might engage |
IN successfully, it has not been thought nee
essary to tighten or brighten the labors Of the |
tarm by any rays of science or CLEANS of in |
telligence from the world of thought and ac- |
ton without. Work was the one thing |
wanted from sun-rise till bed time, and the |
physical nature, often over-wrought, had |
neither strength nor sympathy to give to the |
mental, which of course grew dwarfed and |
distorted in the unnatural atmosphere.
Struggle against it as they might, with bits
of candle and lighted fire brands in the chim-
ney corner, over wearied nature has proved
more than a match for fancy, philosophy and |
nietaphysies; and where one boy with such
culture has come forth perfect man, men
tally morally and physically, nine hundred
and ninety-nine have proved unhappy fall
ures.
Boys on the farm as well as IN college,
have future before them, ana snould oe eo-
ucated IN reference 10 she place IN tnas iu-
talre which their natural aoiiihes entiue
them to fill. Parents VINO DO not ACT upon
this principle, but simply drive tneir ooys
like horses or oxen to the piow, VIII ma
their farm Improvements PAID Tor AZ dear
rate, and need not wonder at hnding tnem-
selves deserted and LETT to lonely old age
The class of farmers now fast coming
upon the stage are beginning to learn that
they mnst progress with the times, that they
must admit science and intellect into their
fields and barn yards whore they want their
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