The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-01-18
Winter on the Farm.

1t is popular idea that there is little /
to do on the farm in winter. COuntc-
nance is lent to it from the disposition
OF many farmers to waste the time, but
the thoughtful and enterprising never
see a time when mere idlenesS is wei
come. When one cannot work Out-Of-
doors, he can work in the house, post
ing accounts, reviewing the year sue
cesses or reverses, planning for the naSt
season, ordering his supplies of com
merciaI fertilizers, his trees or plants
for spring planting. hiring labOrers, as
sisting, 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 enjoyment 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 a sharp atmosphere that
is eXhilarating to both human bein s
and animals, and ride behind good
horses, particularly by moonlight, when
the snow creaIzs 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-
bilitv in winter farm life, and sleighing
as an adjunct, let me suggest that it is
not for the young folks alone. My idea
OF sOciability in all ranks is, that to Sc
| cure the best results in culture, there
| should be nothing like divisions as 30
] i
! pies parties, and old folks sOciables do
/ not answer the true purpose OF such
| gatherings. They promote awkward
! ness and clannishness. and sometimes
| coarseness. The rather immature young
/ man will sometimes make fool of HIM
! self in a company of about his own age
| exclusively, and so will the young lady
of the same order. Their lamentable
attempts at ''smaUtness' may occupy
the attention of the company, to its
! detriment, and be mistaken for admirI-
/ ton. while 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, it would
| tone down. and tune up at the
same time, the intercourse of all; and
this is especially needed in farming
circles The children, OF course, are
rudimentaI learners; the youths and
maidens of sixteen and upward never
know quite as much as they think they
do; while parents are apt to think they
know too much to feel much interest n
what is purely social on such occasions.
But something a little out OF the rut OF
farming is the true design of such gath
erincs. The farmer and his wife should
be true men and women as we'll as farm
ers-a little given to literature as well
as to pork and potato growing; able &c
talk about books and their worth, with
something of the same ease with which
they talk about their neighbOr 81 alhngs
and with more profit. 1t is worth
good deal merely to try to be agreeable
and a man or a woman of any ace who
succeeds at it at party is better able
henceforth to do it at home, where there
is often a disposition to neglect it. Man
ncrs. or an easy address, have a vas
deal to do with what we call success II
life. and the great majority can easil,
be trained to them, or train themselves
by care and obseTvat on. In rural re
) gions, winter affords the best opportu
! nifty for this culture Country Gentle
man.