Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1891-03-10
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Tho bret farmer. should D. made from
the bows " ho gtoS up Ca the farm but
ur alt know that too often thee boy.
t--,pmr 80 prriudic-d against farm life
In their early year. that they bend every
energy toward getting frc. from IL a.
.non a. they approach the years ~ mau-
haod. FArm 40. should - aud can Do
m ,i- mu.t attractive to the boys aui a
liking tor " Implanted Ia than which
will not soon 4. outgrosu. city boy
turned l"o-. upon farm Sill find hun
drci thlngs to Interest him that the
country boy has never tboaght about
because they were so familiar. Hut by a
little carr he could b. taught Ia have an
Interest in the very cOmmOnest things
surrounding hi. life; aud the seed thus
planted would grow and bsar fruit of
t-.lf. Tie boy GA the farm should
know the name. of grasses aud wccd.
of the Mild iioSst. la the woods Of the
bird. that ling about the hclds. \ few
books la which these are described aud
illustratol-th. pictures Will take hl.
fancy IN the description. de- not-may
Law the foundation for liking for sg''-
claI study. such a. botany or ornlihol-
ogy, or entomology; and as the farm
fnrni.he. the very fi.li for the pursuit.
of such Investigation. y. thc.. .iudlc'
NAV lead him "a undertake, II Will gain
FROM thi. fact an added value to him.
4 child may be taught to observe out
door life even before IL can rad; theu
With the ability Ia read for itself the
tendency to observe aud understand can
b~ easily cultivated. knowledge of this
.ort will not make the boy = poorer bat
. better farmer, for he will have better
understanding of nature, and higher
appreciation of her Ways.
loo little attention IL paid In our
schools to developing the faculiie. Of
observation. or Ia directing them toward
the thlngs Immediately about "a. \
child 4. instructed regarding the man
ner. of the people la Iapland or Pata-
sonia, while he 1. unable tO tell whether
the tree IN the school yard u pine or 4
spruce, and whether the hoNers la th'
garden az home are indigenous oreNotlc
Teach the boy to ask question. about
nature, aud then let him search littl,
/ for the answer. Do not tell him AZ once,
vet do not make the task Of discovery
too hipi. There |. a certain mrsiium OF
help a. b. observed that Will give just
the needed rest 10 hi. efforts, aud mak'
the knosleige most prited. Teach hln
to a.k What IL l. that cause. the gras. u
become green la the spring aud the au,
tumn leaves mellow ani rich With ~
tlnts In October. 10 know by it, noi'
what bird sing. fir-t at his window u
the summer morning; from what worn
the brilliant hued butterfly u evolved
AMI the mystery Of the chrysalis.
Farm life {. often described a. monot
onou =, aud too often II IL so. hut tber'
A. no life that should afford greater yari
ETY., both Of work and play, for even
play may bccoms tir,some II u !. always
on. thing. When the boy understand
that the farm I. place of freedom In
.tead ~ restraint; that IL l. broadening
Instead of narrowing: and that u s1crii
the very amplest field for all his ambition
and ingenuity, then viii there be- cessa
tlon of the ng-continued hostility be
tween the boy aud the farm.--AmericaI
Agriculturi.t.