The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-01-24
WHOLE NO. 22I7

Tor those Of your own household.
Still another element in the heritage
Of young farmers, both natural and right
ful, is the thorough training TO habits Of
industry. Human nature is so constitut-
ed that there can be no excellence with
out effort, no progress without labor, nc
success without toll. he who expects TO
win lfe's laurels without industry is
either knave or fool, and will find his
right place in the poor house or the
rogue's gallery. Honest toll Of hand or
brain is the common lot Of humanity,
the essential condition Of right living,
and the secret Of true happiness. Despair
not, then o toiler for God wills that
six days shalt thou labor, and he who
obeys not, is simply blank in the worlds
work, and worse than a blank in the pur-
poses of his own being.
The farm develops workers Gradual
ly as the boys aud girls grow larger, the
muscles grow stronger, and work adapted
TO their strength comes to their hands.
The habit Of daily doing something use
ful is woven into the very tissues Of their
being, until it forms the real essence
of life and Of all lfe's purposes. Early
do they learn that there can be no sue
cess, no progress without labor and daily
do they see the fruits of their toll. When
once this habit Of industry is planted
deep down in the sub-soil of conscious
ness, it goes with them as the motive
power Of their success everywhere. see
it almost daily in the schoOlrOom. And
do you wonder why many of our brightest
and best scholars come right out of the
country schools, with all their disadvant-
ages aud short terms. Simply because
work-honest brain works the condition
of scholarship anywhere. Do YOU won
der why awkward country boys forge 70
the front in law, in theology, in teaching,
in medicine, in business. Simply be-
cause they are workers trained to indus
/ try on the sarm. A farmer once said to
me in the presence of his only son-a
bright but spoiled boy I want him to
get good education, so that he will not
need to WORK likeI do to make living
That sort of teaching is all wrong. Let
the boy have good education, but let
its first principles he established that If
he would make life worth living he must
work. if not with his hands, then with
heart and brain.
pity the boy who has no regular
employment, whether on the farm, in
the village or in the city. From hist class
come the duless, shiftless, worthless
people, that later fill up the ranks of
criminals and paupers.
But while farm labor brings this rich
heritage let it not be overdone. Let not
the boys and girls be made the slaves Of
toll. II is the constant, never-ending
drudgery of farm life that young people
seek to escape, and that often drives
them into other avenues of life. Let
recreation and labor, toll and rest be
mutual helps in the economy of life. Let
the young people have an occasional
holiday with all the innocent fun and
amusement, natural to youth. Let them
have frequent home gatherings without
the barn raising, the corn husking, or the
wake. 1t will develop social culture and
bring sunshine and life into the family
circle.
Economy, the twin brother of industry,
is likewise a natural lesson Of life upon
the farm. This is especially true of the
farmers here represented. Your farms
have many lines of work and many
sources of small profits. Il is absolutely
necessary, therefore, 10 take care Of the
little things, to avoid extrAvlg snee and
waste, in order that the years work shall
show some increase. This lesson Of econ
omy once learned in youth, will bring
comfort and competence and honest liv-
ing in mature life.
Another item in this legacy, AMI prob
ably the best the farm can bring to young
people is the natural advantage in the
formation of stirling character. The farm
er's family, isolated for tine most part. is
kingdom in ITSELF, and its members
simply absorb and reflect the virtues and
vices Of the home circle. Outside inau-
ence and associations cannot materially
affect the home training on the farm As
they may in the village or the city. The
boy who never hears Gods name in the
home but in reverence will seldom, if ever
learn profanity. II he Is accustomed to
see fair dealing and to despise fAlsehoOd
and treachery, he will himself become
an honest and Trustworthy man. If he
is taught to shun blrrOom as place
unfit for boys or men, be will never be a
drunkard As a matter, OF course, all
god homes are fountains of moral pari-
ty and right living, but the farmers
home affords exceptional opportunities
for the building Of true character. Yet
here as elsewhere. the atmosphere must
be pure and inyigOrating if tie young
life there shall grow up into true and
noble manhood and wOmsnhOod.
But now, hear someone say, These
things are ali right and good, but how
about the great question of intellectual
cuIture?" Shall the young farmer have
a well-cultivated and well-stored mind
as his natural heritage. answer, a
good common school education is his
rightful legacy" This means more than
a few months schooling every year from
six to fifteen. Il means the fullest and
best training the country school can give
under its most favorable conditions.
1t was my privilege 10 address this in
stitute twO years ago upoa the mutual
interest Of the school ami the farm, and
shall therefore touch but briefly upon
the matter now. Oar ideal Of the coun-
try sch Ools, as you know, is high, and
with all the progress of recent years, we
have yet scarcely touched its possibilities
and its benefits. Let tue farmer help,
not hinder its improvement; for in it is
rich legacy for his boys and girls, and
from it will be realized the largest returns
for all be may be able to do for il. To
deprive the young farmers THE privilege
ofthe best school the country can afJrd I
is to rob them Of their birth right and 70
leave them poor indeed as future citizens
ofa free commonwealth.