The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-10-28
s. The Boy on the Farm.


farming, where it is followed from a
love of the occupation, is greater and
of more lasting benefit than that of
any other profession. No doubt it is q
laborious business, yet it is healthful
and the results are sure if slow.
Doubtless there are trials and tribula-
tions through which a farmer is COM
PEELED to pass, but SO, also, and much
more abundant are they in every other
walk of life. Would that might con-
trast metropolitan existence with q
few of the advantages attending q
farmers life, and so direct attention of
young men who are toiling YEARLY
after . bare subsistence in the city,
and especially warn farmers sons
against the fallacious dream of riches
and honor and pleasure they imagine to
be won in the great marts of trade.
City ways are not the ways of the
home of their childhood. The peace
and plenty that surrounded their youth
full days at the old farm are turned to
turmoil, confusion, want and tempta-
ton. The steady occupation which re-
quired the simplest outlay of thought
and the merest exhibition of strength
Of arm are changed to racking of brain,
tireless physical activity, and buffet
ings, such as none but men Of iron
nerves and indomitable will can with
stand. The supplemented, honest
friendship found in rural homes, in the
city too often is make-believe and a
lure. The young man who deserts .
country home for the mirage he sees in
the far-off town, exchanges pure gold
for dross. Not one of the thousands
who have left the farm for a prospect
lively successful career in the metropo-
lis has ever reached the goal for which
he aimed. The tread-min existence of
the average young man in the city is a
horror compared with the varying du-
ties of the brisk young farmer as he
pursues his Independent vocation.
It is perhaps true, in many cases, that
the young man who seeks the city does
50 not altogether from his own choice.
Too often the father looks upon grown
up sons as boys still, and arrogantly
demands from them the obedience and
ways of children. The son, who has
received modern education, desires
improvements upon the farm with
which manual labor may be saved; or
perchance he may wish to change the
plan of rotation in crops, so long car
ried on, to one of stock-raising, or some
other specially; and the father, stub
born for his own way. declares that no
new-fangled notions shall be introduced
while he is able to control; and thus a
breach is made in that unanimity which
should prevail, and widens until a sepa-
ration is thought advisable. Then the
young man looks about for something
to which he may turn his hand, and the
chances are that instead of migrating
westward, where land can be had from
the Government almost for the asking,
where his experience and information
would quickly build up to himself a
home and a competence, he turns his
eye upon the city. He possibly has
read accounts where fortunes have been
made off-hand through some strange
freak of the wheel; his Imagination and
hope become stirred up in his own be-
half, and he straightway submits him
self to the tide that swallows up the
thousands as they come.
He enters the great mart without
1fl0uUS 10 duVlSc VI ECCOmlucuu, duu
wanders up and down its thoroughfares
seeking employment, bewilderment
upon every feature, dazed at the hurry
ing crowd and the incessant rush Of
vehicles. If he finds work it is perhaps
something mental and transitory, at
which his self-respect revolts, and more
than likely leads to associations which
have certain tendency to low scale
of morals if not of actual crime. At
this point, if he is of a reflective mind,
he begins to weigh the advantages he
has left with the disadvantages he has
in hand, and returns, if not to his old
home, to rural employments with which
he has been conversant all his life. But
if still feeling the sting of the old
man's'' harsh words and injudicious
treatment, he possibly may cling to the
preconceived idea that the city is the
place for young men out of employ
ment, and struggle on until forced into
the direst distress and poverty. Such
instances are numerous, and if the truth
of experience could be impressed upon
the attention of those who are contem-
plating life in the city, many sad fail
ures might be avoided.-C0r. ~ r.
Tribune.