The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-25
"a WORD TO THE FARM B0Y.''

we print from the Southern Cultiva-
tor an article with the above head
ing. We wish to call attention TO
if and to some other things connect
ed with the subject.
Some years ago while preparing
a series of articles for publication
on "Boys on the Farm we had
occasion to study the subject care
fully. Among other things we
found that struck Us quite torclbly
was the cause of boys leaving the
farm. And we reached the conclu-
sion. and not without good reasons,
that one of the most hurtful indu-
ences and one of the most potent IN
driving boys from the farm, is the
everlasting grumbling of their
fathers.
A very we'll educated lady, and
one III whose wisdom and judgment
generally we place much confidence,
said to us since the publication OF
our last issue that she thought the
farm needed more of our educated
Young men. And so it does. 1t is
all a mistake to suppose that
because a man lives on a farm in
the country he is dull and a long
way behind the times. One of the
best informed men we have met IL
quite long time was country
teacher and farmer. We met him
in another part Of the State last
winter and his conversation was
highly entertaining and he knew
something about what is going on
in the world.
But to tie matter of grumbling:
If farmers Will stop grumbllng and
instead try to encourage their boys
to love the farm and cultivate d
taste for farm life, the boys will not
be SO anxious to leave the farm
We know that boy always thinks
his father the greatest and wisest
man in the land-at least his father
ought to try to set before him such
examples that he will think So
Now, then, if the boys hear their
fathers grumbling about farm life
being so hard, SO little money in it
and such like, there is no wonder
that the boy Will dislike it.
To be sure, farm life is one OIL
constant labor, and so is every other
department Of industry that brings
any reward for ones labor. The
merchant dare not close his doors
even on Saturday night before
others do, lest he lose a shllling's
trade. The lawyer dare not be out
of his Office more than is absolutely
necessary lest he lose a fee. The
physician dare not absent himself
from his office except when On a
professional call, lest some one snail
send for him and his nelghbo1
physician make the fee. And so on
to the end of the chapter. If we
look upon 1t as matter OF labor,
then the farmer certainly has no
more close confinement to business
than other people.
at is mighty easy to write about
such things,' people sometimes
sneeringly say to the editor. "Phy-
slcian, heal thyself," they say. We
care nothing for such sings. They
count naught to US. We know
whereof we write when we say there
is more real independence and true
contentment among the industrious
and enterprising farmers of this
country than there IS among those
who are ready to sneer at a mans
opinions simply because he is a
farmer.
We frequently hear it said that
too many are looking for easy jobs.
Well, if it is an easy job a man looks
for, out of which to make much for
himself in an honest way, he will be
out OF a job the most of his time.
An easy job for an honest man Is a
hard thing to find. We prefer some
of the hard jobs to the task of
bunting up the easy one. And the
falmer has no worse a job than
thousands of others. Indeed it is
far easier than many others.