The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-03-12
boys on TnE plHu.

tho papers for US boysl' askcd one OF
the neighbor's boys as he came into the
room whore was busy writing.
"What is the matter now Guy T. ]
asked. Nothing in particular" he an
swered.
Don't tell me know betlerl Doys
don't wear such solemucholy faces for
nothing in particular Come, ont with
itp
"Well, then, II isn't any one thing in
particular, IL ID everything put together
chat makes mo 30 mad / want to get
somebody TO write a whole book about
tho way grown folks treat us boys. ]
tell you.-and want you TO put II in
the paper-that boys have bard time
of it on the farm. We are hauled out
Of bed before sunrise to milk the COWS,
cut the wood and do forty other things
that nobody else wanta to do
wouldn't mind the work IL wo ever got
any thanks fca what We do, or ever had
anything mat We could call our own.
No matter how much We do, or how
well wo do il, grown folks are always
finding fault. wonder IL they expect
us 20 know Low to 10 everything Just
right. guess the men have forgotten
that they were boys once. Then the
old folks never think that we boys like
to have something Of our own. There's
father now, he is always complaining
because don't take an interest in tho
farm. How can take an interest in
the farm or anything about iti He
never gave me an interest in anything
never had anything Of my own in my
life except a pair Of rabbits, and the
first time they got into tho garden my
rabbits had 10 go. Last year wanted
some chickens Of my own, some pure
blood ones you know, but he wouldn't
hear word Of it. Then begged for
little piece Of ground where might
raise what pleased. DO you suppose
l got il Not much And now TO top
OF with ho wouldn't let me 60 10 school
this winter, says Ike got learning
enough for farmer, as il ever expect
ed to bo farmer bate the old farm,
and I'll not stay on il day after / am
of agcl II father wanted 10 make a
farmer Of me, be took mighty queer
way to do il"
"Well, well, Guy That will 10 for
once. Please take these letters 10 the
Office for me, and I'll think over what
you have said"
And die think the matter over un-
Ill came to the conclusion that there
was n good deal more truth than poetry
in Guys boyish oatburst. Like his
father good many men take mighty
queer" way To make farmers Of their
boys They show the boys only the
hardest. most elisagreeable, most barren
side Of farm life, au'l then wonder Why
it is that their sons leave the farm the
first chance they get.
II you want your boys to "htick to
the farm" ''stick Rs .J;irns 10 Ae boys"
Teach them TO like the farm and farm.
ing 40 well that they will have no desire
To leave the old hclne until they leave
for homes Of their own. You can do
this hy making home attractive, by
taking pains to show them the bright
si.!c OF farm life, and by showi, them
that a Iuan can he farmer and gen
tl'man too.
Provide Your loys with good hooks,
magazines, agricultural works and l,a-
.s.rs; and instead Of sitting in the corner
dutiug the long winter evenings, aud
bewailing the failure of one crop, pre-
dieting the failure Of another next kea-
son. and declaring that farming don't
/ pay. aud farmers lie is slaves life"
read with your boys, stndy with aihem,
| play chess, Backgammon, and checkers
with them, and ii you should happen to
go coasting and skating with them once
in while, You would feel all the better
fer the fun.
Give your boys an interest in the
farm. If one is intei ested in chickens,
let him take charge Of the poultry, and
If another shows u taste for gardening,
give him patch of ground aud let him
work. Require them to keep thorough
and systematic accounts of their work,
and deal squarely with them. If at the
end Of the year the boys have done fair
IL we'll, do not Withhold the praise they
have honestly earned; and if they have
failed in anything, don't be discouraged,
and don't discourage them-point out
their errors and let them try again. /
might go on and write whole sermon
on this subject, my heart is full Of "good
words" for the boys; but have said
enough to open the eyes Of men like
Guys father, aud to show them their
duty. FANNY FIELD.