New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-13
LIFE ON A FARM.
WHY / DID NOT BECOME A FARMER
rnaEE RATHER UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE
WHILE BOY.

WHILE A BOY.
After hearing the question discussed why so
many young men leave the farm for the city much
against the wishes of their parents and friends the
thought came into my mind why did not become
= farmer but sought the city and have passed my
HE there, to the sorrow OF my father ana motheI,
who even to this day allude 10 the hopes they had
entertained of my passing my life on ialhl
They had brought me up with the idea that
farmer's life was an ideal one, and had pictured
10 me the comfort and pleasure OF managing
farm Of my own; of being my own master anu ho'
being at any ones beck and call, until larry
rsveled In the idea that when grew up 10 man
hood l would look for no higher honor than 10
become an honest tier of the soil, and py nara
work, wise management and economy become
the posscssor Of a farm of my own, anu
be able to pass the declining
years of nv life in peace and contentment sur
rounded by loving friends and neighbors, honored
and respected by my fellow-men as the upright
and honorable old farmer Jones. How sweet to
INV Youthful ears was the old song we used to
sing in the country school, and how my enthusiast
tic Young heart would swell with pride and conf
dence as joined in with my sehoolmates rs
they sang:
A farmer will be-"
But alas how soon all these rosy visions were
doomed to blight by the whitening froets OF eX-
periencc, and all the hopes and anticipations OF
having farm OF my own were turned 10 disgust
at the thought Of ever becoming farmer. Why
10 this day the very sound of the word farm will
send a chill down my back, and feeling OF
thankfulness food my whole being that was
able TO get away from the slavery OF farmers
life 20 life in the city, the possessor of a
Dc nd
that / am not kept awake nights worrying
for fear the cows have broken in the corniled; OF
that II will rain before morning and spoil the
hay that we were unable 10 get in the barn. al
though we worked until o'clock; or that the bugs
will eat up all our potato patch before we have
time 20 doctor them with paris green. and the
numberless other worries and cares that, COM
bined with the hard toll and long hours, make
an old man Of the farmer before he has arrived
ut the prime of life and when he should still have
long years Of usefulness and comfort before him.
The first rude shock to my youthful dreams OF
the pleasures of a farmers life was received when
was In my thirteenth year. The War OF tho
Rebellion was then raging and help had become
scarce on account OF the many young men from
our neighborhood, who had shoqldered the musRet
and gone 20 fight their country's battles. Hitler
20 had worked day here and day there for
the gardens OF the neishbors bat had not as
yet had real taste Of work on the farm one
day a farmer, who lived some miles fiom my
home. cane e. our Louise and wanted to know u
would not like to help him month or 80, as
he was In need of help TO get his crops planted
and was very much behind with his spring S
work lie drew beautiful picture OF the pleas
ant time we would have. with az occasional outing
for hunting and fishing; and as he had q.'ite
reputation as q sportsman, was easily persuaded
20 go with linn for month, and IL we were
mutually pleased, for longer period. IL was
agreed that was 30 receive 81 per month and
my board, with the prospect OF little pleasure
with the gun and rod. Congratulating myself
upon my luck In having chance to make real
start In life as farmer under such pleasant
auspices, I was soon ready, and. bidGing my
mother good-by climbed into the wagon beside
my new employer and was off, eager TO bcGln my
new life. We reached his place about dark and as
supper was not yet ready, helped him care for
the horses and attend TO the other work TO be
looked after, occasionally hoping that supper
would not he as late as this very often, as had
been in the habit OF having il at home punctually
az o'clock Finally, few minutes before o
we hea nd the welcome summons and went 10 the
house for our meal. i did justice TO the food
placed before us, and, as l was nearly famished.
did not notice particularly the difference between
tile nice wei-cooked meals had been used TO on
my mothers table and the coarse, ill-1avored
viands now set before me. After finishing our
supper the farmer had some frewood TO cut, and,
lighting the lantern, we adjourned 10 the wood
shed and spent the next half-hour in saving and
splitting wood, and then going to the house, went
60 bed pretty tired The next morning l was
aroused few minutes after A. Going down.
stairs. / found the farmer busily engaged feed
ing the horses and cattle and getting ready for
the days work. There was no delay in having
breakfast on the table, and at o'clock we
were ready 10 set out for the field. On our way
the farmer said he had just bought some new land
and anxious TO get O few stones and brush
cleared of of as much as he could, so as to put
In q crop Of corn. The new land was about a
mile and a half from the house, and arriving
there I saw very rough piece of ground We
went to work with will at the task before us.
] was anxious to give satisfaction, and thought
il / showed ar interest in my work we would be
the more likely TO take holiday shortly and
have q glorious time hunting and fishing. But
the forenoon was very long; indeed. 1 began TO
think / would famish before dinncrtime arrived.
On account of our distance from the house it had
been arranged for the dinner to be brought TO us,
so that we would not have TO lose time in going
back and forth. At last / beheld one of the
family coming up the road with our food and
could hardly contain myself in my eagerness to
satisfy my hunger. After eating his dinner in a
wonderfully short time, and before 1 had half
finished, the farmer jumped up Nnd flew at the
work again. and looking at me as much as to ask
Are you going to eat all day?" Feeling ashamed
of my hrdiness, went TO work with my appetite
still unsatisfed. When o'clock came l limited
pretty strongly that supper must be waiting for u.s.
and that was ready for it. My companion thought
we had better work a little longer, as it was
q fine evening, and it would not hurt the
women folks il they did have TO wait awhile for
us The few minutes heightened out into an hour