The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-14
COUNTRY CHILDREN.
Dlli Arp Philosophizes Sweotiy on tho
Privileges of Farm Life.

Oil Arp Philosophers Sweotiy on tho
Privileges of Farm Life.
1t is great thing for family to BIO
independent 1t is good thing for the
boys and the girls to know how to do
all the family work, and to be willing
to do 1t, and we have tried to raise our
flock that way. The boys can hang a
gate or q window curtain, or put in a
PIANO of glass, or mend a chair, or make
wagon for the baby, or cut the wood
and feed the stock, and the girls can
paper room as nicely as Mauok, and
they can cut and fit and make their own
garments, from calico to silk, and cook
as good q meal as anybody, but we don't
want them to do these things all the
time, and they shall not as long as l
can help It, There are some social
privileges and pleasures that are reason
able and natural and innocent, and we
all like to enjoy them. If friend comes
to see me wish to entertain him pleas
antly and cordially, and not have to say.
i've got to cut some stove wood right
now and you will have to excuse me-"
If ladies call to see my vito and daugh-
ters 1T would not be pleasant or polite
for them to say, eve don't keep q cook
and are doing our own work, and you
will have to excuse us this morning."
Tho poor should not envy the rich for
enjoying these social pleasures, nor
should tho country people be envious of
tho town people. All would do tho
same thing if they could, and it is
evcrybody's duty to better their con-
dition If they can. Nine farmers out
of ten would movo to town if they
could afford to. They would do it for
their children's salle-for better schools
and better preachers and better social
advantages. But nine out of ten can't
move, and so it is their duty to build I'D
the country schools and country churches
and raise the grade of both. If tho AL
lance does no other work in the legisla-
ture than to demand and enfore n tax
that will establish good ten months
school in every settlement that can num-
Der fifty scholars between tho ages OF
eight and eightoen, it will have accom-
plished great work. Give the country
children chance. If they had had it
heretofore | would have been in tho
country farming until now, for there my
children spent the happiest years of
their life. They talk about it yet with
memories of delight Tho springs and
branches, and tish-pond, and the creek
and mill not far away; the wash-hol
and the spring board; the walks through
shady, winding ways to the lime-sink
field, and the little spring beyond that
was ovcrhung with haw trees; the dells
and coves, and meadows. where the wild
flowers grew, tho hunt for clleberrics,
and maypops, and blackhaws, and scaly-
barks. and walnuts; tho ripencd grain,
and the grass falling before the reaper's
blade, and their sweet, dizzy rides on
the top of the loaded hay. They still
love to tell how they fishcd, and seined,
and hunted squirrels, and rabbits. and
coons, and set traps for birds and killed
the water moccasns that hung in tho
bushes that bordcred the meadow
branch. They talk about the colts they
raised, and the narrow escapes they had
from butting rams and vicious bulls and
runaway teams, and they magnify all
these accidents and incidents the moro
and moro as time recedes from those
happy days. If they 1.-Two to the allotted
ages Of three score years and ten, they
will still recall their farming lifo with
fondcr memories than any other.
| wish that all the children of this
blessed, bountiful land could be raised,
at least, in part in tho country upon IL
wcll-watcrcd, wcll-managcd farm. Bill
Arp, in Atlanta Constitution.