The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-22
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Joe Thomas lived on farm in the
country, and, although many boys
would have thought themselves fortu-
nate in having such a home, he was
about as discontented fellow as could
he found.
Some of the city boys, who had visited
him during the summer vacation. told
him that he was green" that he
would be very foolish to remain on q
farm all his life, and that if he had any
spirit about him he would 90 to the
city, where he would have an opportu-
nifty of seeing life as it should be seen.
| Joe's father wanted him to remain at
home, learn to be farmer, and settle
down on the homestead as he himself
had done. But Joe would not heed the
advice. He was thoroughly discon-
| tented, as many another country boy
has been, and his one purpose in life
was to get into some city where he
could wipe out the stain of '.greenness,"
which he fancied every one could see
He finally succeeded in doing as he
wanted to; friend of his fathers pro-
cured for him situation in store
| where he could earn triiie more than
sufficient to pay for his board, and he
left the broad acres. whereon he had
toiled with heavy heart because of his
longing to get to the city, without a
ones at home. The farmhouse, nest
ling among the trees at the foot of the
hill, looked dingy and shabby as he
drove away from it to "see life as it
should be seen," and in the ripening
grain and fruit he saw nothing but re-
minders of ignoble toll. According to
Joe's belief, life in the country was
hardly less than form of slavery, while
it was only in the city that happiness
could be found.
Now, boys, and more especially you
country boys, who are beginning to
think Just as Joe Thomas thought, l
want to tell you how he was disappoint-
ed in his bright dreams, and if you are
wise you will profit by his experience.
He found boarding place, where
the small. stuffy room, which was quite
as good as any his fellow clerks had,
offered poor contrast to his coy little
chamber at home, fragrant with
lavender scented linen, and as tidy as
the apartment in the city was disor-
derly.
Instead of looking out over fields of
waving grain, tasselled corn or nodding
buckwheat to the lofty hills beyond,
when he was in his room he could see
only brick wall hardly fifty feet away.
Instead of the fragrance of the flowers
he had the odor of garbage from the
unswept streets, and instead of being
lulled to sleep by the chirping of the
crickets and the plaintive cries of the
katydids, he was kept awake by the
rafting of carts and rumble of the
street-cars. At the table, the difference
between the food prepared by the serv-
ants in the clearinghouse and that
cooked by his mother was 80 disap-
pointing that it seemed to him he could
never enjoy a meal again until he could
get one at home.
But all this was necessary training:
he would rid himself of what the boys
called "greenness."
Joe had been told that boy on
farm is obliged to work harder than
one in a store in the city. He could see |
little or no difference, save that in the !
former case he labored in the open air, |
where everything was bright and health |
full around, while in the city he was |
shut out from the sunlight, and de-
prived of the health-giving breezes.
laden with the perfume of fruits and |
flowers. At night, instead of joining /
with the boys from the neighboring
farms in husking or pairing bees, candy /
pulls, cOasting or skating he was
forced to remain in his cherries room,
or walk about the streets, where the
bustling crowds, intent only on business
or their own pleasure, caused him to
feel even more lonely than when he was
entirely alone.
He was not many days in learning
that he had been green only from
the city boys standpoint, and that, so
far as country life was concerned, they
were the ones who were green.
After he had ''seen life," according
to the ideas of his city friends. he wrote
TO his father, and the following is an ex-
tract from his letter: 81 am coming
home to work on the farm. l did think
that such labor was almost degrading;
but find that it is quite as honorable,
and certainly more manly, than doing a
woman's work behind counter. You
need never fear that l shall ever again
want to exchange the Independent farm
life for that of the city, and 1 am sure
that to be called green will trouble me
no more. 1t is better, think, to be of
those who produce something in this
world than of those who depend upon
the productions of others, and / now
- - Al. Il
calling than that of farmer"
Joe went home, and he was wise in
20 doing, as wise as VOC viii be, boys, !