The Baltimore County union., 1883-12-22
GIVE THE BOYS A CHANCE.


Farmers boys are as full of life and
ambition as any boys. They see visions
in the future of prosperity, influence,
money, and reputation. They see boys
who have been clerks in the village
stores, carpenters, bridge-builders, com.
positors, machinists, employees OF fnan-
cial operators, merchants, bankers, etc.
They At once mark their great superb
ority in some things: in knowledge
Of the world, in qulckness OF thought,
and, likely enough, in wickedness also.
Your boys want to get away too, or see
their aoay en-, some how. II there is
money to send them to school, that
satisfies them; il the condition of go.
ing is ;ha; they shall learn trade, they
will learn one; If they must get 4 self
supporting place in store or shop, on a
canal boat or anywhere else, they will
find one. Is i, because they hate farm
ing and work? No, indeed. Nine
tenths OF them love the farm and will
eventually return to II, or will buy an
other as soon as they have made money
enough.
have been born and bred on the land
they till; the best farmers are those
who have been in business, or who have
been successful in some trade, or who
have been TO sea, or have seen the
world and know something of trade
and commerce, who have expanded
ideas, and who are readers, and lovers
Of books. They are up with the news
of the day, abreast with agricultural
progress, have their notions about
political economy, free trade and pro-
lection, cooperative dairying, cream
cries, new kinds OF stock, etc; they
put up silos, get new tools, and show
an earnestness for progress in some
way-in every wa, ,-and really do pro-
gress. They not only make money by
legitimate farming, but are gradually
put forward rs prominent men in the
community. given township offices, sent
to the legislature, and all that. All be
cause their natural ambitions were not
curbed, because their spirits were not
broken by the wrctched ptovcrty Of
ideas which prevails on too many farms.
Which do you think most OF, the
farm or the boy ?-If the boy, then
give him chance give him every OPP
portunity in reason to see and know
what is going on in the world about
him; give him good books; trust him
at the store, and to be "of'' evenings,
il he will only trust you with the knowl.
edge of all he does. lie will do this
and have no secrets, If his father is
worthy of confidence. You must sym
pa:hize with him.
There is not room on the farm for
half the boys. Some must go to the
town, to sea, to college. Do not
grievc over it. II is better for them
and for the world, and really better
for the farm. Make your boys wide
awake men, and encourage them in
seeking after knowledge and plans for
Improvement in every way. With
books and papers, and good company,
and some knowledge of outside things,
boy will choose his own avocation,
succeed in it, and IN after years come
back to bless the old homestead, and
old folks.
II you think you must keep the boy
on the farm for his own sake, give him
personal interest in the farm, share of
the cattle and sheep, pigs and poultry
get him 10 keep his earnings or invest
them, to have 4 savings bank account,
and so anchor him, not by exhibiting
your authority or purchase, but by his
own love for you, and by his own in
tcrests.