The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-09
Total, 1900 pounds
TEACH YOUR SON A TRADE.

The main trouble of society at pres
ent lies not, as people imagine with
the working men, but with those that
do not want to work, whether among
the capitalists or the laboring
class. There are altogether too
many people in both the busi
ness Office and the work shop who
want to reap without having sown,
who are determined to acquire money
at all hazards, by legitimate means if
they find them, and if not, then by
illegitimate ones. Our age Of steam
and electricity has robbed US of one
precious virtue, without which man
will never become contented and
happy, and that is patience. This
feverish -'estlessness Of ours urges
everybody along to risk all he owns,
even the honor which is beyond the
possibility of repair, for the sake of
making money over night. And this
foul air infects the young, the son of
the artisan and farmer as we'll as that
Of the wealthy merchant. Speculation,
instead Of thrifty labor, is considered
the only road to fortune; hence the
daily increase Of defalcation, of breach
of trust, and all sorts Of false dealings
There is only one golden load to
happiness and prosperity-it is patient,
persevering labor Mother earth
yields her rich produce only to those
who have deserved it by the ennobling
sweat of untiring labor. She shows
neither favors nor predictions to any.
Labor alone, whether agricultural or
manual, offers true satisfaction. Its
reward lasts. Fortunes that are quick
ly gained are too often also quickly
lost. A good, diligent workman is
never at a loss about his future. He
is safe anywhere and at all times. 1t
is wrong and imprudent Of father to
put all his boys, if he has many into
business, without having them first
taught some handicraft or profession
One of them is almost sure to become
shipwrecked in the great struggle for
existence, and if all succeed it is by
adventure rather than by wise fore
sight. We must, even in the estimate
of the wealthy, have industrial labor
raised in value and capital lessened.
There are more young American
men in the penitentiaries in this coun-
try learning trades than there are out
side of them. The principal cause of
this is that we are educating young
men for gentlemen-trying to make
lawyers, preachers, doctors and clerks
out of material that nature intended
for blacksmiths, carpenters, sailors
and other honest "hewers Of wood
and drawers of water" It is mis-
take and big one too, to make the
boys land girls too) believe that to
labor 81 disgraceful, and to do nothing
for a living is more becoming the
society in which they expect to move
and have respect. Hang such society!
It is rotten to the core to-day, and
there are many mems sons and daugh |
ters who are now being educated to
play the part of "leading lady" and
!" walking gentlemen in the great
drama of life, who will light out for a
poor house or penitentiary before
they have played their parts and the
curtain drops.
Young man! get thee to tannery,
to tinshop, to chicken rancho. You
can soon become your own boss, indie
pendent and commander of your own
little kingdom, if you are prudent and
but never wear out your
young years behind either counter or
desk and spend your salaries for having
your hair parted in the middle in the
hope of catching the heiress who pre-
fers her fathers coachman. Boys,