Huntsville gazette., 1882-02-04
What To Do Winter Evenings.

The truth of the old saying that call
work and no play makes Jack a dull
boy" has never been disputed, and it is
well, when practicable, that the work
and play should be so regulated and ad.
iusted that at no time should there be
too much or too little of either. Hence
it is that we have always approved the
observance of all legal holidays and the
making of as many more, that the laws
do notrecognize, as possible. But the
farmers work must be done in its prop
er time, if it would be well done. "li
you. DON'T drive your work, your work
will drive you,' and there are times
when the loss of the labor OF one day on
a farm can not be made up in week.
Not only must hay be made while The
ssun shines, but all other departments OF
farm labor must receive attention when
1T is demanded, or loss will result. With
few exceptions, from early spring until
the SHOWS and frosts of winter make
their appearance, there is no time for
real leisure or relaxation for the farmer.
He must work from daylight till dark,
and is too weary to enjoy what OF even
ing there is.
But in winter it is different. He has
his labors and duties then, to be sure,
but they are not so many or so arduous
as in the summer; and when the long
evenings come the question, "What shall
we do tonight" is. asked in many a
home circle.
Man is a social animal, and he who
does not associate with his neighbors
omits duty he owes both to them and
to himself Without society no one is
morally full grown. We gain from
others by our intercourse with them, and
they gain from us in return.
The religious societies found in almost
every neighborhood furnish to certain
extent opportunities for the exchange OF
social courtesies. Besides the stated
services on Sunday, there are the usual
weekly meetings, where the neighbors
gather with kindly feelings; and al
though we would not class such meet
ings with social gatherings, there can be
no doubt that the coming OF men in
kindly contact with each other is of real
benefit to all.
But besides these there should be in
every rural district other gatherings OF
the people. There should be a Farmers
Club regularly organized and holding
stated meetings for discussion of ques-
tions previously agreed upon, as well as
of such as may arise at the time. These
meetings should be as free from stiffness
and formality as possible. We know
how difficult it is for many who are un-
accustomed to it to put their thoughts
into words. Others can not speak when
standing for the purpose. The sound
of their voices seems to drive away the
power Of thought. Others, good con-
versationalists, make entire failures
when attempting anything like a speech
or an address. But there are few who
can not say something, if permitted to
do it in their own way, that will be of
interest to others. There should be
other neighborhood meetings of an
entirely social character, where young
and old can meet together, and all be
young again so far as concerns the
throwing off the cares that growing
years must bring. There are games
and sports in which, for the hour, all
may join, with not only freedom from
harm, but with decided benefit to all.
As we write, we wonder if in all our
broad land there is a place where any
thing like the New England spelling
schools of forty years ago has an exist
ence We see now in memory the old
school house, with its long benches
around the sides, hacked and cut by the
ever-busy knife of the traditional Yam
kee boy; with its dim light, from tallow
dips set in potato holders; with its an
tagonistic rows of boys and girls well
versed in the contents of Webster's
spelling book, showing spirit of deter
mination worthy of the cause, and with
interested parents proud of the ortho-
graphical attainments of their children.
Those spelling schools are worthy of
resusctation, and some of the winter
evenings can be spent in no better way.
But neighborhood gatherings are only
occasional, and there is a winter eve
ming at the close of every winter day.
Blessed is that home where the family
is sufficiently large to make social cir
Gle in itself. What opportunities are
afforded for mental culture. Reading
is always in order, and no member of
any family should be excused from tax
ing his or her turn in reading aloud,
not only for the pleasure or instruction
>aof others, but for his own benefit.
There are but few good readers in the
cemmunity-noto one where there might
be and ought to be hundred. Music,
too, ought to be cultivated in every
home circle. All can not sing well, but
there are very few who have not the
gift to an extent sufficient at least
to take part with others of the fam
lily. We believe there is nothing more
powerful in preserving unison and ce-
menting affections than music, both vo-
cal and instrumental.
There are many games that should
be encouraged. One of the first endeav-
ors of the head of family should be to
make home pleasant. Many young men
have been allowed, if not driven, to seek
amusements in other places that they
should have found at home, and in
places where the company was such as
to lead to their final downfall and de-
struction. Offer, then, all the induce
ments in your power to your boys to
Lo1,, Oh ,>1o E., Al