The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-01-19
Winter on the Farm.

popular idea that there is little
to 40 on the farm in winter. Counte-
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 well
come. When one cannot work Out-of-
doors, he can work in the house, post
ing accounts, reviewing the years sue
cesses or reverseS, planning for the ne It
season. ordering his supplies of CON-
mercial fertilizers. his trees or plants
for spring planting. hiring laborers. as
sisting. perhaps, in household dairy
matters, or engaging in good reading
or sociab lity. 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 eXhilarating TO both human bein $
and animals, and 4 ride behind good
horses, particularly by moonlight, when
the snow creaks and sparkles. the stars
seem 10 dance. the horses spring totheir
work, and nothing is blue but the sky
above. is an occasion for rather more
enjoyment than even the "balmv
spring affords.
But. referring to this matter of socia-
bility in winter farm life. and sleighing
LOT hnt - =.
not for the young folks alone. NV idea
o. sociability in all ranks is, that to Sc
cure the best results in culture, there
should be nothing like divisions as 20
ages. Children's parties, young peo-
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 .'smartness" may occupy
the attention of the company, to its
detriment, and be mistaken for admira-
ton, while the presence of parents and
guardians would have a 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
mlrth 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
rudImental learners; the Youths and
maidens OF sixteen and upward never
knew 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
eringS. The farmer and his wife should
be true men and women as well as farm
ers-a little given to literature as well
as to pork and potato growing; able TO
talk about books and their worth, with
something of the same ease with which
they talk about their neighbor' failings,
and with more profit. 1t is worth
good deal merely to try TO be agreeable,
and man or woman of any are who
succeeds a. if at party is better able
hence 'orth TO do it at home, where there
is often a disposition to neglect it. Man
ners, or an easy address. have vast
deal to do with what we call success in
life, and the great majority can easily
be trained TO them, or train themselves,
by care and observation. In rural re-
gions, winter affords the best opportu-
nifty for this culture. Country Geatle-
man.