The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-07-16
Home, Education and Social
Culture


our family depends to a great ex-
tent upon home culture; the read
ing of good books stores the mind
with useful knowledge; magazines,
| papers, societies and institutions are
among the means which may be
used profitably to turn our oppor-
tunities to the best account. In one
sense every thoroughly educated
person is self educated. The farm
er's life is rich in opportunities for
self culture and home education;
more SO than in most occupations,
he has seasons of leisure which NAV
be spent in reading and study. A
| farmers life should be the aspira-
ton of all who wish a pleasant and
happy life. Our farmers daugh-
tiers are soon to be the pride of our
country, but before they can become
this, they must make an earnest eff
fort to possess a refined education
and intelligence which may be OBJ
tanned in these days of many books
and newspapers. Girls often become
discouraged because they can not
be sent away from home to board
ing schools, such girls should be
properly educated at home, and this
education can be had where the de-
sire is not lacking. A taste for read
ing does wonders; one who has that
taste, with an earnest thirst after
knowledge, is almost certain to be
successful.
We should endeavor to make our
homes as comfortable as our cir
cumstances will permit. 1t does
not require wealth to make us hap
Ply. We often hear people wishing
to be rich, and envious of those who
are SO. People who have toiled for
riches and have been successful are
wofully disappointed when they
find how little they have obtained.
The lack of means some times make
us sad, but the acquisition of wealth
brings new cares, and not the hap
piness we expected. We should
economic our means so as to pro-
duce the greatest amount of COM
fort. We have only one life of pro-
baton to live; if we would be wise
we must redeem our time with
every possible effort. | think it is
our duty to enter into the Joys and
sorrows and to sympathize with
those among US as far as it is posi-
BILE. We should not work for selfish
motives but for the good of those
around us. If we wish to be happy
we must observe the golden rule,
'do unto others as you would be
done by" There need not be so
many lives in slate color if all who
are happy would scatter happiness.
We may aid them with some gift,
if possible, if not we can at least
give them kind and pleasant word
of sympathy. Those who have been
by our side alike in our joys and
sorrows are to us as precious gems,
to be treasured in the safest places
of our love and care. A gauge of
merit is friend in whom we may
confde without the shadow of a
doubt.
We should study to make our
homes as beautiful and attractive as
possible. We should seen every
opportunity for cultivating taste
and refinement We should grow
rare and beautiful flowers, such as
our taste may select. Flowers are
one of the precious gifts of God, and
GRO oxyor xuo1copoa xU bara +bo~a o-o
refinement and taste. We may or
nament our walls with such nice
pictures as we are able to procure.
There are none so poor but they
may have at least one beautiful
picture to place in their homes,
which will exhibit good taste.
Beauty is willing guest in every
house where a little thought and
time invite its coming.
Social culture is one great feature
in life which should not be neg
lected. The lack of a pleasant
social life is the very thing which
makes existence on the farm gloomy
and wearisome, and drives our
young men away from home, seek
ing the enjoyment they should have
at home. We should provide the
most innocent recreations in our
community for cultivating social
life. We should have entertain
ments occasionally which would in
volve nothing more costly than a
little forethought and willing hands
There are no reasons why the far
mer and his family should not have
recreations and pleasure as we'll as
other people. To be loved and
respected and TO be successful is the
instructive desire of every human
heart, the ever constant desire of all
is to be happy. In reality it need
not take much to make us happy;
if we have food and raiment, with
comforta BILE shelter, kindness and
| love from those whom we associate
with, contented spirit, however
lonely our position, we may be
happy.
Our Grange meetings afford a
good opportunity for social and
mental improvement. 1t is a school
to elevate our minds, so that we
may do something for ourselves and
not depend too much upon other
classes of people. 1t is also place
where young people may meet and
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