Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-10-11
The FARMERS HOME
w ~ Shouid Be Wsll-Kept, Comforts.

'NnMeHS HOME.
Wv 1t should BE wsll-Kept, Comfore,.
oie AID Happy.
"Be 1t ever so humble there Ia M
place like home" is a sentiment that
will hold good as long as the world
stands. The squalid peasant in over
crowded countries where the loraly
rlcn Mold domineering sway over the
lower classes, lives in his filthy hut
contented, because all attempts to as
plre to better surroundings and condi-
lions are crushed. or nipped in the bud,
or, more likely, no bud is ever allowed
to form. So his days are spent in an
unending round of wretchedness, vet
his humble cot is his home. All his
pleasures, however meager, center
there with his family around him.
But with the farmers of the United
States. how different the conditions. The
formers lot is dependence. and the lat.
ter's is independence. So it would
seem that the American farmers should
have a comfortable. happy home. But
what should home be-a model
home? My idea is that home should
be a place which farmer can enioy:
where his children grow up around
him to years of discretion. The build.
ing should be kept in good repair. The
yard should be nicely fenced and paint
I'd. Shade and fruit trees should be
set out in abundance around the dwell.
ing. There should also be nice gar
den with vegetables, fruits and berries
in their season. so that the pork barrel
will only have to be visited at inter.
walls "few and far between" The
children should have good district
school education and winter or two
at the academy if it can be afforded.
What stock is raised should be
OF good blood. so that the boys
will be interested and encOur-
aged. Improved machinery ought to
be used so that large results may be
obtained with an expenditure of but
little muscle. With the reaper. horse
fork, sulky pillow and other riding ma
chinery, the farm and farming have no
terrors to an ordinary energetic boy.
There should be q workshop where
leisure hours and rainy days may be
spent. A few necessary tools should
be there. the more the better; then
when rainy day comes, the boys will
be there, hard at work making or re-
pairing something that will please the
head of the family, and they will soon
become expert in the use of tools.
thereby saving good many bills. And
as regards the hOuse-the hOme-see
that it is supplied with reading matter
suitable to the ages of the children.
Supply them with books not of the yell
kind, however; give them
newspapers, magazines. etc.
If they have desire for music get an
organ or piano if it can be afforded.
What u continual feast and power for
good is musical instrument in
family where all can gather around and
sing praises to the Great Giver.
A boy that is brought up under such
influences can be trusted, and, at the
proper age, it would be we'll to give
him a nice carriage, harness and
horse, which he has earned many
times over, and when he drives out
and circulates with companions, who,
without doubt. will be of the same
stamp as himself, even then he will
go home with pleasure because he was
reared In pleasant home, and when
he leaves it to fight LIES battles. it
will be q lcave-taking of profound sor-
rOw.-COr. Rural NeU Yorker.