The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-08-23
Farmers and Farm Help.

As there are "books and books
meaning good and bad oncs-so there
are "mcn and men" Some farmers
never have any trouble with their help
and the farm work moves a steadily
and with rs little friction as clock-work;
others are necessarily in trouble and
everything goes wrong. We are ac-
quaintcd with men who are laborcrS by
the month or year on the farm, and who
make their employers interest their
own. They work as well when the
"boSs" is away as when he is near,
and, in everything they do, they conSd-
er how they would act lin their employ.
er's position. There are others, also,
who labor simply for the money thcy re-
ccivc; they have no interest in the work,
but listen with keen ear for the dinner
horn and watch with eager eye for the
setting of the sun. To do the work
somehow necessarily well is the
principle which governs them.
The farmer who is particular rs TO
VIII IN he employs; who has the bargain
we'll understood, who pays well, pay 5
willingly aud pays promptly; who APP
prcciatcs good service and fairly iuiills
his part of the agreement, need have
little fear of being troubled by his help.
For such employers there is always some
one to offer service; such employers are
sought by "hircd men, and in nine
cases out of ten, satisfaction is mutual.
But, unfortunately, not all employers
are thus careful rs 10 whom they hire
or how they treat their help. They ST.
lcct from the trough sculr' elias, from
tramps and those who never have had II
steady situation, simply because they
can hire them for twenty-five cents less
per day though, in reality, they receive
half dollar per day less in return for
services. The usual result is that tie
farmer has to oversee all his work per-
sonally, look after the implements when
not in use, go here and 20 there TO give
instructions, and thus lose largely his
own time which. with intelligent, in
duStrious help, could be elsewhere more
proltably employed. In fact. each is
intent on getting the most possible from
the other, neither having the welfare OF
the other at heart. Such II condition of
things is neither agreeable nor prolita-
BILE
We are aware that the same differ
enccs are liable to arise between cm-
plsyers and employed in other occrpr'
tons. but the effects are more Strikii-
and more noticeable on the farm than in
the workshop or store where the rou-
tine of duty is more easily marked and
tie labor is more mechanical in its ma
turc. Farm work can never be reduced
to such exactncss in detail that the
workman can perform il satisfactorily
unless he is thoroughly interested in it,
and in hearty sympathy with his EN-
poyer. SO much for the hired hand,
and on the other hand, to keep this in
tercst alive, there must be ON the part
of the employer the approval and appre-
citation Of work faithfully done.
But there is something more in this
than the bare fats o! work well done
and well remuncratcd. There is gen
uine satisfaction on the part of both EN-
ploycr and employc, and the resultant
happiness which accrucs TO the men
themselves and to their respective fami'
liesis thing to be sought for and priced.
But when the men are continually al
"loggerheads,n their families feel the
reactive influence, and even society is
in degree, affected adversely by it.
Whatever, then, will bring about mutu
al contentment and good will among
farmers and their help should be fos
tered, and while "hired men, are fall
BILE, the farmer should remember that il
is largely in his power to make then
mutual relations agreeable. -Rurat Neu
Yorker.
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