Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-04-09
Farm and Household.
THE FARM AND MORALS.

INK FAnm ANY mVnklos
1t behoOves every man in every
pursuit to do what he has to do to
the best of his ability. For his own
sake, not only because it pays him
better, and wins for him more OF
what is desirable in the world, but
also for the sake of the influence
and moral effect. A man does MOI
live to himself. Tied together by
all bonds which bind in its aggre-
gate what we call "society,"a man
may feel that as an unimpOrtant
integer in the great mass of figures
he has no influence, but no man
can safely act on this assumption.
Even the farm er, whose life is al
ways quiet and generally compare
lively isolated, has influence for
good or evil, if not in his personal
associations, then in the exhibit he
makes to the world in his work.
If one sees a bOtched job Of car
pentry, a poor piece of blacksmith
ing, or any other specimen of defec-
tive handicraft, the thing most
prominently suggested in his mind
is the wOrthlessness OF the mechanic
who did the work. SO it is with
farming. A man riding along a
country road and looking at the
farms that lie along on each side
will involuntarily draw conclu-
sions as to the characters Of their
owners, from the appearance that
each presents. If farm is we'll
fenced and looks trim and clean,
cleared of briars and weeds, we'll
drained and well titled, 1t takes no
tlfort to picture man, bustling,
active, shrewd and energetic,
square in his dealings, methOdical
aud systematic in his work, with
his farm paid for and money in
bank. Nor is that all it is easy to
90 on with the picture. One will
expect to lind the household Of such
a man as well ordered as his farm;
a wife who is a thrifty, busy house
keeper, and children who are
obedient, intelligent and industri-
Gus, who stand at the head of their
classes, and who, when they ar
rive at years Of maturity, will not
be found loafDg in disreputable
places, but following in the foot
steps Of their father.
The silent influence for good OF
such a man can hardly be estimat-
ed. The contemplation of good
example has an influence extend
ing beyond the limits of its own
line of life. "Act well your part,
there the honor lies" applies as
iorcibly to farming as to any other
calling, and the mere fact of doing
well what falls to ones lot is a
standing rebuke to the slovenly |
and careless, and braces up the
weak to renewed efforts. For it is a
speaking illustration of what may |
be done by grit and determine
ton, and invincible proof Of how
much better it is to make good
use of our means than to abuse
tbem.
The farmer whose farm not only |
thriyes but presents the outward
evidences Of it, which bears the
sign manual of his thrift I nd pros
perity, always commands the re-
spect Of his fellow-men. II some
one is wanted for a responsible
position, be is the man selected.
If he should want to borrow money, |
be can always get it. lie is natu-
rally ranged by all who see his farm
with the honest, the upright, the
sober, and the patriotic.
Quite contrary, the man whose
farm presents a shiftless look will
naturally he set down as a shift
less character. Vice and crime
and intemperance are the cOncOmi-
tants of sIovenliness and an I'M
thrifty appearance. To a stranger
such an appearance of any farmers
home isprima fscie evidence against |
the character OF the man. ne may
be a good man, but he is not like
Is to be one, and he certainly will |
not be taken to be such.
The moral Of this is, keep up !
your fences, keep down your weeds,
clean out your fence corners, run
your farm Systematically, be pros
porous and be honest, and you
will be respected and have intu-
ence for good beyond what you may
.expeet-JoNrnaI ofAgricRltare.