The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-10-23
Farm Lie.

fence. vi dll O(CupdlIOho3 thot VI
agriculture is the best calculated to
induce love of country. and rivet it
firmly on the heart. No profession
is more honorable, none more con-
ducive to health, peace tranquility,
and happiness; no calling more in
dependent. When we walk abroad
in nature, we go not to artists to
study her sciences, but as children
to rejoice in her beauty. The breath
Of the pure air, the blue of the un
clouded sky, the shining sun, and
the green softness of the turf be-
meath our feet, are all that we re-
quire to make us feel that the farm
presents more attractions than city
life, with its crowded, busting
streets, its mockery of comfort, its
crimes and follies. We deplore the
disposition of young men to get
away from farm homes to our large
cities, where they are subject to so
many temptations, which they too
often fail to resist. Depend upon
it if you would hold your sons and
brothers from roaming away into
the perilous centers, you must stead
tasty labor to abate the task-work
of farming, to surround your work
with the proofs of intellectual pro-
gress. We have long observed with
regret the growing tendency of
young men and lads to abandon the
farm for the dangerous excitements
of city life and trades. And very
| often young men favored with
every comfort of life fancy that they
can do far better than to guide the OK
to turn the stubborn soil, and with
the merest trifle of consideration,
they turn to the office or work shops
of the city, which proves vastly less
agreeable and profitable than they
had anticipated. Where one is en-
abled to withstand the sweeping
tide of temptation, five are sub
merged in its angry waves, and hur-
ried on to ruin. Every year finds
hundreds, yes thousands, of such
victims. 1t has been well said that
for a young man of unstable habits
and without religious principles,
there is no place where he will be
so soor ruined as in large city.
Parents throughout the country
have not failed to realize the startl-
ing truth, and to sorely mourn the
strange inclination of their sons.
Parents, remember this, if you
would not have your sons lost to
you in after life; if you would have
them lend hand to keep you in
the rose covered cottage, instead of
letting you go to the naked walls of
workhouse, make home pleasant
and happy to them while they are
young. Send them into the world
in the full belief that "there is no
place like home, be it ever so hum
ble." And even should the old
home, in the course Of time, be
pulled down or lost to your children,
it will still live in their memories;
the kind looks, and kind words,
and thoughtful love of those who
once inhabited it will not pass
away. Farmers homes are capable
of being made the most beautiful
and attractive homes in the world
But they are not so made in a great
many, and perhaps a majority of
cases, and this is why the boy will
leave. Now education, and the re-
finement which naturally accompa-
MES it, will go very far towards a
reform in this particular. But
great many farmers, and others,
think it does not pay to educate
| young man who who intends to give
his life to the pursuits of agricul-
ture. If it does not pay in dollars
and cents, it will pay in true man.
hood and womanhood. Every per-
son should acquire an education of
some kind. Let the country lad be
as we'll educated for the farm as his
city cousin is for the bar or count
ing room. And by all proper
means let the farmer appreciate his
high and honored position in the
community.
"Ever remember" writes Goldth-
wait, "that for health, substantial
wealth, for rare opportunities for
self-improvement, for long life, and
real independence, farming is the
best business in the world"
Another good reason why farmers
should be educated is this: With
delegation of nine in the National
House of Representatives, backed
by constituency more than fifty
per cent of which are farmers,
Michigan has not one representa-
tive who is a farmer, and has the
interest of this class at heart. And
our State Legislatures are but little
better. Now why is this? Simply
because our LAWYERS, and professors,
and others, think that farmers pay
so little attention to State and Ma
tional affairs, and are so poorly ed
ucated that they are not fit to occu-
pv these places. SO the farmer will |
stand back and trust their welfare |
in the hands of those who make it
their business to hunt and gain these |
places, those who have but little in
terest in the farmers welfare.
Of course, no one should vote for
man simply because he is farm
er, when they would be glad to do |
so could they feel assured that he !
had thought of something else than
his farm, to that extent he was quail
fed to cope with those whom he |
might meet, and not let their inter.
ests suffer.
Farmers complain because thew