The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-11-18
Disconnected Boys in the Country.

Joe Thomas lived on a farm in the
country. Some city boys, who had Wis
tied him during the summer vacation,
s d him that he was "greeD," that if
he had any spirit about him h. would
go to the city, where he world have
an opportunity of seeing life as it
should be seen.
Joe's father wanted him to remlin
at home, learn to be a farmer, and
settle down on the Homestead as he
himself had done. But Joe would not
hear the advice. He was thoroughly
Disseminated, as many another country
boy has been, and his own purpose in
life was to get into some city where he
could wipe out the stain of "green-
ness" AT last he accomplished what he
He finally succeeded in doing as he
wanted to; a friend of his father pro-
cured for him situation in a store
where he could earn trfle moe than
sufficient to pay his board, and he left
the broad acres, wherein he had toiled
with heavy heart because of his long
ing to get to the city, with )ut single
regret at parting from the dear ones at
home. The farmhouse, nesting among
the trees at the foot of the hill, looked
dingy and shabby as he drove away
from it, to "see life as it should be
SEEM" and in the ripening grain and
fluit he saw nothing but reminders of
ignoble toll, According to Joe's be-
lief, life in the country was hardly less
than form of slavery, while it was
only in the city that happiness could be
found
Now, boys, and m ore especially you
country boys, who are beginning to
think just as Joe Thomas thought,
want to tell you how he was disap-
pointed in his bright dreams, and if
you are wise you will profit by his ex-
perience.
He found boarding-place, where
the small, stuffy room, which was quite
as good as any of his fellow-clerks had,
offered poor contrast to his cosy little
chamber at home, fragrant with laven-
der-scented linen, and as tidy as the
apartment in the city was disorderly.
Instead of looking out over fields of
waving grass, tasseled corn or nodding
buckwheat to the lofty fields beyond,
when he was in his room be could see
only a brick wall hardly fifty feet
away. Instead of the fragrance of the
flowers he had the odor of garbage
from the unswept streets, and instead
OF being luled to sleep by the chirping
of the crickets and the plaintive cries
of the katydid, he was kept awake by
the rafting of cars and the rumble of
the street-cors. AT the table, the diff
ference between the food prepared by
the servants in the boarding house and
that cooked by his mother was 80 dis
appointing that it seemed to him he
could never enjoy meal again until
he could get one at home.
But this was necessary training; he
would rid himself of what the city boys
called "greenness
Joe had been told that boy on a
farm is obliged to work harder than one
in store in the city. He could see
little or no difference save that in the
former case he labored in the open air,
where everything was bright and health
full around, while in the city he was
shut from the sunlight, and deprived of
the health-giving breezes, laden with
the perfume of fruits and flowers. AT
night, instead of joining with the boys
from the neighboring farms in husking
or pairing bees, candy pulls, coasting or
skating, he was forced to remain in his
cherries room, or walk about the
streets, where the busting crowds, in
tent only on business or their own
pleasure, caused him to feel even more
lonely than when he was entirely alone.
He was not many days in learning
that he had been "green " only from
the city boys standpoint, and that, so
far as country life was concerned, they
were the ones that were green.
After he had "seen life," according
TO the ideas of his city friends, he
wrote to his father, and the following
Is an extract from his letter: 81 am
coming home to work on the farm. 1
did think that such labor was almost
degrading; but find that it is quite as
honorable, and certainly more manly,
than doing woman's work behind a
counter. You need never fear that
shall ever again want to exchange the
Independent farm life for that of the
city, and l am sure that to be called
green will trouble me no more. 1t is
better, l think, TO be of those who
produce something in this world than
OF those who depend upon the produc-
ton OF others, and / now think that
there can be no more manly calling
than that of farmer"
Joe went home, and he was wise in
so doing, as wise as you will be, boys,
ii you remain on the farm, where you
have the proud consciousness that you
are doing far more good in the world
than if you were seeing life " in the
city. What would become of the peo-
pie in this world if all the farmers
should suddenly conclude that tilling
the ground was not sufficiently noble
calling.
When you are discontinued with your
lot, boys, remember that it is the
farmer upon whom all the people in the
world depend for the actual necessaries
Of life; then you will understand that
no calling can be more honorable than
that which is actually and in fact the
handspring of the whole.-Erchange.
"DoEs your mother know you're
out" said boy to his little brother.
Yes, she does" was the answer, " for
haflla af m,