The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-08
The Husbandman.

John Smith is a neighbor of mine,
but no relation. He isa good farmer,
but-Well, T will let him tell his own
story. He came to me the other day,
and said:
II want you to advise ME what to do.
We are having awful times over at my
house. The boys are falling into bad
habits. The girls are gadding about all
the time. My wife is as cross as a
bear. She says it is all my fault that
the children don't do better, and that 1
have nobody but myself to blame.
But you know that I have always been
sober, Woodworking man. l have
made good living for my family, and
T can't see why things turn out so.
What do you think I ought to do?'
"Shall tell you just what I think?
"Yes."
"Well, John, my opinion is that If
you had been as good a husbandman
indoors as you are out of doors, your
family would be in as good condition
as your farm is. You know that the
Bible calls the farmer husbandman,
and we speak of farming as husbandry.
And I take it, the idea is that a man
ought to care for and cultivate his
land just as he does his home. But
if you had treated your farm as you
have treated your home, it would be
all ever-grown with weeds and this
Ties"
"What do you mean by cultivating
my home? understand about Guilt
waiting land. But that is very differ
ent thing from cultivating people"
II am not so sure of that. Let us
loook at the matter, Soon after you
bought your farm you married your
wife. In becoming husband, you
assumed in regard to her the duties Of
a husbandman. She expected you to
study her capabilities and wants as
you studded your fields. Your idea
when you looked on your land was,
How can I make it most productive,
and yet keep it in good heart? Ifyou
saw the crops beginning to grow light,
you summer fallowed, or changed the
seed. But did you study your wife
in that way? Did you ever think that
she needed encouragement? Did you
ever see how she was dropping from
the monotony of her daily toll and
cares, and try to give her change? d?
Did you ever say, Come, Sarah, we
will take journey to the mountains
or to the seasho1e and rest awhile
I tell you, John, people need summer
following as well as land. And if they
don't get it now and then, their spirits
grow worn and weary, and the crop of
comfort for them, and for those who
are dependent Oh them, will be very
light. Nay, in spite Of themselves,
they will get to be irritable. You say
that your wife is cross. Don't you see
why? She loved you, and thought
that you loved her. But after you
married her, how did you treat her?
Did you cultivate her, or did you neg
lect her? Don'tyou act just as if she
had nothing to expect Of you but to
keep the family supplied with provis-
ions, and to eat your meals when she
had prepared them? And didn't you
sometimes grumble even when she
wanted money for things necessary to
the comfort of the family? And
didn't you complain of her cooking,
when she was doing the best she
could to please you? Now just re-
member how much more careful you
were of your land than of your wife !!
how much more time you spent in
trying to mellow it and smooth it, and
to find seeds adapted to it, than you
spent in trying to make her happy,
and you will see why you have such a
harvest of thistles, when you might
have had wheat and fruit and flowers !!
"And then about the children.
You are the best man l know of to
handle horses. have often wondered
at your patience with your colts. You
never seem to get tired of petting and
training them. You are so kind to
them, and yet so firm with them, that
by the time they are old enough to
work, they will do anything you want
them to. That pair of bay geldings
that you drive is the finest in the
country, and it is because you have
taken such pains in breaking them.
Now if you had done as well by your
children as you have by your colts,
they would be just rs nice boys and
girls. But while you petted your
colts, you repelled your children. I
have seen little Johnny come to you
while you We're in corral trying to
gentle the horses, and you would order
him away harshly and then turn and
speak as softly and caressingly to the
beast as mother takes to her babes.
You know that if you had spoken to
the horses as you spoke to Johnny,
you would have spoiled them. Is it
any wonder, then, that you have
spoiled him?
II tell you, John, your wife is