The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-12-04
The Boy ON the Farm.

Our homestead farm was one of the
best in New York State, located on an
eminence commanding views of great
beauty, surrounded by friendly and in
telligent neighbOrs, adjacent to attrac-
tive villages, churches and schools.
My father possessed liberal views of
life and we all INDUCED in luxuries in
common with those out of debt and
with something in the bank. My
brothers and were given opportunities
for recreation, education and private
enterprise. While yet lad leased
the homestead for two years during
which term. prices ruling high, cleared
over $1,000 above all farm or personal
expenditures. Notwithstanding such
favorable circumstances, often cited as
a recipe for making boys "stick," none
of my fathers children continued farm
ers. With fair prospect of ultimately
owning the homestead, left it, served
an apprenticeship and for twelve years
was banker in city. There learned
how easily fortunes are made and how
easily lost. Learned the value of good
digestion and of the refreshing sleep of
him who labors under the open sky.
Learned, when clouds threatened, when
the waves of the panic shook my bark.
and the sea was strewn with wrecks,
that the farm was safe harbor and l
longed to cast anchor again in that
quiet retreat, remembering only the
pleasant chapters of my farm life. Do
l then regret having left the old home
stead? No, for there discomfort would
have relaxed my energies. No, for l
cannot help feeling that am stronger
man than / could have been had re-
manned. The principal cause of the
discomfort of the boys on the farm is
this: Many of them were designed by
the Almighty for specialties; are en-
dowed with qualifications for mechanics,
navigators, inventors, lawyers, doctors,
clergymen, etc.
What wonderful provision that all
are not born for one pursuit. What
confusion and suffering would result
were it otherwise. Knowing well the
characteristics of my brothers and
schoolmates, who did not "stick to the
farm" am confident they would have
made poor farmers, whereas in their
proper spheres they were successful.
Therefore l dispute the popular theory
that we may advance agriculture by in
ducing those boys to remain farmers
whose natural inclinations would lead
them into other pursuits. Neither can
| concede that the best boys leave the
farm. There is much in agriculture
that may allure men of ability to pursue
it, and many of our best balanced mir d -,
are thus engaged. If the brother who
follows specially carves a more bril-
liant record, it is in part for the reason
that he beats continuously in the same
channel. like the tireless Niagara. A
man struggling for success in field
wholly uDsuited to his tastes and nat
ural endowment is pitiable and often
ridiculous. Who would thrust child |
into such bondage? The discovery of
our proper place in life being half the
us make farm homes attractive
10 the boys, but for a nobler purpose
han to induce them to remain against
heir better judgment. There is no
anime in the land; our farms are occu-
,ied; the granaries of the world are
,verfowing. There is room, however,
or few more Fultons, Morses, Down
ngs, Websters and Lincolns. NV ex-
,erience with farm and city life teaches
he wisdom of giving the boy on the
arm opportunities for travel and thor
ugh education. If then he chooses
arm life he will make the better farmer
md more useful and honored citizen
HAS. a. Greene, in ~ Y. Tribune.