Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1884-01-02

BOYS AND TIE FARM.-I read with
considerable interest the articles that
appear in your columns, from time to
me, respecting the boys all leaving the
| farm.
Now, we have family of boys that we
would be glad to see earning their way
on farms, and finally settled on land of
| heir own, in our dear New England. We
| ived on q farm many years, and did not
discover that eveD one Of our boys disliked
farm work. They were very fond of
taking care of anything that had life,
loved the garden work, and hailed, with
especial delight, the haying season. The
forenoon lunch eaten on the grass with
he men, was esteemed by them far ahead
Of any basket picnic ever got up. They
! thought it no hardship TO keep mother
isupplied with berries, picked at odd times,
for pies and the table. I believe, that,
from tho opening Of spring until the
closing of winter, our boys were interested
in their work; in the fields, at the barn,
or mayhap in the woods.
| What is the matter now? We have a
stout lad, not yet of age-a faithful.
willing boy. kind and careful with every
creature he has had to do with, valuable
hand, and appreciated by his employer,
who would willingly raise his wages to
retain him. But he cannot be persuaded to
remain here another wear. He is now as
| fast to leave tho farm as he was eager 10
engage in it.
To rise between four and five, milk II
number Of cows. % in TO Il cup OF drink
called coffee. with nothing about tie
breakfast table to please the eye or palate;
out, to long, dreary forenoon, with no
"lunch hour' to break its tcdions course;
! in, to n dinner, got up, it often seems to
I the help, for cheapness rather than nour-
ishment; the meat poorly cooked, and tt e
poorest pieces good enough for the men;
an occasional cake that has outlved its
usefulness, may grace the tea table. At
night, there is the little back chamber,
| into which the sun has poured its rays,
unchecked, throughout the day, mingling
with the heat coming up from kitchen
stove. Not even Il screen to the one little
window. Nothing, anywhere, to show
hat there has been a thought for the
comfort of the hired man.
Not very pleasant outlook for high
| lfed. growing lad. 1t isn't the hard
work, or the long days that stand in the
wav. 1t is feeling of II don't like to
be here" | remember a farmers wife
saying to me, some years ago, in language
more plain than elegant, that their hired
help were always dainty and fault finding,
and she added. "If should cook up nice
things as you do they would make hogs
of themselves"
Now, the fact is,' had to practise the
closest economy, and could not afford
many things that sine had. But tried to
have the food. such as it was, abundant,
attractive and free; and 10 have our home
q home for any who chanced to be within
it's walls. l feel pride in saying
that of all the men or boys that
were employed while we were on the
| farm, l cannot recall one that was dainty,
| fault finding or homesick. am going to
speak out for the boys. know they
want good breakfast, a good dinr er, and
good supper, and TO feel that they can
eat all they need (being their own judges)
without the cognomen of "hog." They
chair, table, a looking glass, TO say
nothing of nick nacks. They want their
buttons sewed on, and the rips in their
store clothes sewed up. They want to
feel at home. The better class of our New
England boys are not going to work out
on farms, unless farmers wives take
some interest in them. The home have
pictured, am glad to believe an excep-
tional one, but as exceptional rs it ought
to be. The boys of my acquaintance,
that work on farms, are laying up more
money than those that are in other occu-
pations. So take heart, boys. there are
good homes on good farms for you some-
where. When you find good place, keep
it, as long rs you arc needed. BY and by
YOU will own a farm, and havea chance
to show how boys ought TO be treated.
And, boys, cheer up after supper, make
yourselves as agreeable as you can, and
hold your heads high. .-Asttld in The Ne'0
England FGT'HeT, ..rr r ,...