Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-01-19
Winter on the Farm.

1t is popular idea that there is little
TO do on the arm in winter. Counte-
nance is lent to it from the disposition
OF many farmers to waste the time. lSlt
the thoughtful and enterprising never
see time when mere idlenesS is well
come. When one cannot work out-of-
doors, he can work in the house, post
ing accounts, reviewing the year s sue
cesses or reverses, plann NO for the ne 4
season ordering his supplies of COM
mercial fertilizers. his trees or plants
for spring planting. hiring laborers. as
sistlng, perhaps. in household dairy
matters, or engaging in good reading
or sociab lily. The last is not to be re-
garded as unimportant. We cannot
safely ignore society" and winter is
an excellent time for its endowment and
its genial influences. For the very old
or feeble much exposure to the weather
may not be agreeable; but in all those
regions were sleighing prevails. the
young and strong find it a specially at.
tractive season. There is something
about snow and sharp atmosphere that
is exhilarat;ng TO both human bein s
and animals, and ride behind good
horses. particularly by moonlight, When
the snow creaks and sparkles. the stars
seem to dance. the horses spring to their
work. and nothing is blue but the sky
above. is an occasion for rather more
enjoyment than even the "balmy
spring affords.
But referring to this matter of socia-
bility in winter farm life. and slei0hino
as an adjunct let me suggest that it is
not Tor the young ks alone. My idea
Of soclability In all ranks is, that to Sc
cure the best results in culture, there
should be nothing like divisions as to
ages. Children's part es, young peo-
ple's parties, and old folks sociables do
not answer the true purpose of such
gatherings. They promote awkward.
ness and clahnishness. and sonnet mes
coarseneSs. The rather immature vonno
man will sometimes make fool of him.
sci in company OF about his own ace
exclusively, and so will the Young lad :
OF the same order. Their lamentaL,e
attempts at "smartness" may occ py
the attention of the company, to its
detriment, and be mistaken for admir-
ton VIII lie the presence of parents and
guardians would have SOLDERING and
restraining influence. not necessarily
irksome. but it would tend to make
young people weigh their words with
more care. While it need not restrain
mirth and decorous hilarity, il would
tone down., and tune up at the
same time, the intercourse of all and
this Is especially needed in farmin ,
circles. The children, of course. are
rud mental learners; the youths and
maidens of sixteen and upward never
know quite ss much as they think thew
do; while parents are ant to think ihev
know too much To eel much interest n
what IS purely social on SUI h occasions.
But something little out OF the rut of
tarm'ny is the true design of such gatl.-
eriBgS. The farmer and his wife should
be true men and women as well as farm
ers-a little given to literature a well
as to pork and potato growing; able to
talk about boo;s and their worth, with
something of the same ease with which
they talk alb ut their neighbor' sfaiIings,
and with more profit. 1t is worth a
good deal merely to try to be agreeable,
and man or n WON n of anv a @ who
succeeds at IL at n partv is better able
hence Orth TO do il at home, where there
is of en- a $ osit on to neglec it. Man.
ners, or an easy address. have n vast
deal to do with what we call sue ,ess in
lie. and the great majority can easily
be trained TO them. or ira n themselves.
by care and observat on. In rural re-
yions. winter affords the best opportu-
nifty torthis culture. Cona.Tg Gentle
DsGR. $50 "