The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-03-28
-nnar rAEKs WITH THR RoYs,

Here is a real sensible letter tfom lad at Quincy, Mich:
 haye for some dime been quite inter ..,ad in vorr articles in the Frss PFsxy, s.,;tled .Short Tallxs With the Boys," snd as am one of them think that come ~ of them suit my case pretty weli, .rd seeing that you gave advice gratis, ,Aoueht would ask for little on my ovn account. l am io years of age, have a good common school education, and nrac,ice steady habits.
 Nv ambition has always been to be a nachinist or an engineer, and conse- cueutly have stadied books pertaining tc things which would be most needed In those branches of trade, although have never had any encouragement from nv parents. My father owns farm of ITO acres of good land, and if my tastes vent in the direction of farming. prob ably could not get . better chance. Within the last two or three years have wanted to 20 to some machine shop to learn the trade. but whenever l would sneak about 1t there was always the same oid answer of " There will be time enough if you wait few years" But supposing that wait until am 2r, when shall go anyway {as could never be eontented on farrn) then 1t would take me three or four years to learn the trade; then could probably earn my" way ;" when if could have gone year or two ago. ! would have had my trade learned that much sooner. You must not think from what have written that am dissatisfied with the treatment at home, as there is nothing to complain of, but you know as well as any one that person don't take the interest in work that he is doing if bis mind Is working or planning on something else. think that to succeed in anything we undertake 1t must have our undivided attention, and know that it is just as impossible for me to work at farm work and not think about engines and machinery as 1t is for a man who does ike farming to be c machinist My folks say that they will help me when am of age, but then even with the help 1t would take me just as long to learn my trade. What would you advise me to do
 M. E.
 You take the right view of the case in all it's aspects.
 CuStf II yVu hoNS 6 PtSACtcnSC oS So the avocation you wish to pursue, that preference should be consulted. If you have it in you to make a good machinist or engineer you will not be success as a farmer any more than you would be as lawyer or preacher.
 Second, if you Ire to take up profes- sion it is time you were at college. If you are to learn a trade 1t is time you were at it. Ifyou are Io years old there is not "time enough" ahead of you to learn trade. Indeed, you should have become an apprentice a year ago. It will take you three years to finish any trade worth working at In the future, and you will really have no start in life until you are a master-workman. Your time at Io years of age is worth dollar a day, but you must apprentice yourself at about s so per week. At the age of 70 your time IS worth SI so per day, but, if you begin a trade then you must accept the S 90 per week. At the age of 2I you are worth, as clerk, insurance can vasser or ticket agent, at least Sr2 per week, but still, if you begin trade, you must accept the same apprentice wages offered to a boy of I6
 Your father ought to look at both sides of this question. You have your own future to make, and you should at least have your choice of trades.
 And this epistle is from lad in Illi- nois:
 an boy over E. My father is in easy circumstances, and am pretty we'll educated; as we'll as common country boys are generally of my age. 1 have a natural instinct to become an engineer, but my father does not approve of my undertaking very we'll, so will ask you what you would do if you were in my place: and if were to commence it at what age would you think it best to be- ginS believe that is all have to say at present. So goodbye.
 From your friend,
 FRANK H.
 At your age there is no need of haste to begin trade, especially as your bread and butter does not come from your earnings. You should attend school for at least two years yet, and meanwhile study to ascertain what trade or profes- sion you had best take hold of. Forty out of every fifty boys would like to DC Ionaoo0 Sn6 iuSShs, out PIOo@oiy HUI OSCA i've in that number could learn the busi- ness with success.
 The next letter is from Louisiana:
 As you are giving great many of the boys who ask it some souAd advice, may be you will answer a few questions for me.
 I am a boy IS years of age and have a common school education. Ever since can remember, have been wishing for collegiate course, but, nay father who is farmer, is decidedly opposed to it He wants me to stop school alto gether and go to raising Jersey cows on his farm. cannot learn trade as other boys can, because I am partly deaf. l like to attend to, and keep stock-es- peciaIly Jerseys, of which we have two. Nov would you disobey your father and go to college, or settle down on the farm and raise stockf
 Also, l like music very deariy-what l car hear of ito which father Is also opposed. Would you pay, by working ~t- Af al A