The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-07-23
About wild Oats,' &c.

y good old citizen, whom we will
call Jones, dropped in to see us the 9th
cr morning, when the following CONVEX
sallon took place;
Good morning, Mr.. Editor. hear
Il great deal said in the papers
now .a.lays about the buys leaving the
farm and rushing hcad-loug to the
cities, forsaking the pillow and drill for
the more elegant occupation of meas
urng calico and weighing sugar-cx-
changing muscle for brains, perhaps !!
ANYWAY. though, | would "caIl round"
when | was in town and compare notes,
So to tpeak.
We'll, Mr.. Jones, my impression is
that there is occasion for serious apprc-
hcnSion in that direction, and unless the
tide is turned
But stop! Mr. Editor, my object
was not 50 much to hear goa, rs to talk
myself a little first. You see have
rather queer notions on this subject,
and possibly don't agree exactly with
some of your phlanthropic pushcrs OF
the quill, Now, Mr.. Editor, my i'm,
preston is that there is too much farm.
ing done by the boys, such as it Is ;
that is. too many of EN- are "making a
crop, "-underStond me now-but are
making the wrong crop for II profitable
Investment.
don't understand you, Mr.. Jones
don't see the point. Your notions sure
~ are Il little queer.
Wait till say more and you may
see the validity of my conclusion, There
is being scattered too much Of this seed
they call "wild oats" and my OBSERVE
ton is that they who cast this seed can
live anywhere. Down in my section Of
creation there is y right smart chanc,
of it already sown, and what is peculiar
about this crop is that it grows quite NJ
vigol ously in the city and town as ii
the country There are many peculiar
tiles of this branch Of agriculture. /
does not require daylight to make sue
ccssful crop of "wild oats, and ont
season of the year is as well suited II
another to mature l.. 1t tlourishes On
most any soil and will "run nut" an,
other crop | know of. 1t is fact tha
. after the father has carefully prepared
the ground and faithfully planted twill
the best seed, an ungntetul son ca
with careless hand supplant the parent
work of years. 1t yields IL bonntt,
harvest even in time If severest droutl
t and should YOU refuse to gather 1t a;
-, seen rcapcrs and invisible tollers W;
. reap it and carry it to your storehouse'
), grind it free of toll, and force you
|, eat of it. They who SOW this seed ma
!. say they will change the crop by an
i by, and may earnestly wish it, but
YOU 90 to the heart of him who has sow
literally of "wld oats he will tell yo
i that he has ncrer been able to get rid I
y :, the seed. In every walk Of life, npo
u the RIGHT and left and in front of hin
Il as he rctires at night and rises in Il
r. morning, he can see this old seed comll
h M to choke the growth he so earnest
Il desires to cultivate in its place, to cnta
N gle his feet and impede his progress
h. Nav be, Mr.. Editor, the boys Of Wi
=, chester are not farmers in this sense.
" hone not! But you may tell them f
me that "wild oats" is crop that
once started never dies out. The fir
Of regret will not kill it the deluge
IL teors will not drown it! Like Banqn'
rs ghost, it will not down. Boys, we ne,
- you and the world needs your muscl
ve YOUR brain, your brave and hopei
IN hearts, your strong and willing hand
10 hut not in the sowing of "wlld oats
is It is nothing but husks for your lat
is. wears, and starvation to the hearts IN
- yearn for your success and throb wi
pride at your noble deeds