The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-01-24

overSork, imprudence, and intemper-
ance in its fullest sense. Many a splen-
did form with rugged health has been
crippled or laid low by the most reckless
prodigality upon the farm. 1t is written
"The sluggard will not plow by reason Of
the cold, therefore shall he beg in harvest
and have nothing" But / question
whether the wise man would himself
have permitted one of his servants to
plow all day in a cold drizEling rain,
much less have sent the boys and girls
off to sleep in a cherries, freless room
in the coldest winter night. A strong
sound body is natural heritage of the
young farmer, but if robbed of his birth
right or if squandered by himself, he is
poor indeed.
presume the German poet had in
mind, not the people of country town
like Somerset or Berlin, but the city
| folk, when he wrote
"De schtsdt lett sin zu zimberlich
Sic rege sehairnix a.
sic branehe net hire VISA bend,
sic Eorchs's kuEat eppes dra'.
Die buvs guks not EN- b,aehe
Diemsde sin weiss IN din;
Sic hen vol scheme klader a,
sis aver nix rechts drin."
Be that as it may, it surely was never
written of farmers young or old.
Let the boys and girls, then, be taught
to prize SIS a rich legacy. well develop
ed and healthy body. Let all the santa
ry conditions of the home contribute to
cleanliness, health and comfort. Let
them know and do the things which
their physical well being requires until
habits, strong and permanent are form
ed. Let them eschew exposure and avoid
excesses. Then will they be prepared,
in a measure at least, to stand upon the
threshold Of individual life, ready to
flight its battles, TO surmount obstacles,
to overcome difficulties, to defy opposi-
tion and to achieve success.
Another element in the heritage Of
young farmers is the spirit and the pow
er of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in thought
and action. This is both Iightful and
natural legacy because of the very con-
ditions of life upon the farm. The man
who holds an indisputed claim TO any
portion of the earth's surfaces has the
absolute control of his time, his labor,
and his domain. As matter of necessi-
ty, he must himself manage and direct
the forces about him, if he would pros
per. 1t is constant school for original
thought and investigation and from the
natural law of development, he learns to
stand alone in the strength of his man
hood. | do not now advocate the kind
of independence some people have,
which is better named as arrogant self
fishness, or individual greed. That is
not the natural fruit of farm m ansge-
ment. No class of people under the sun
are more hospitable and fraternal than
farmers; and the neighbor on the next
farm, a half a mile away, is worth more,
in mutual sympathy and helpfulness,
than the one on the other side of the
house in the city. No, it is pure, un-
selfish independence in the plans and
purposes of business life, that right liv-
ing on the farm develops, conscious
ness of personal responsibility and indi
vidual power.
Henry Clay once asked an old farmer
on the hills Of Massachusetts,, ~What do
you raise here?' The answer came
promptly, "Men" The history ofthe
old bay State" shows that the old man
was right. The crop has bssn abundant
and good. What the world needs to-day
is men and women, strong in mind and
purpose, te think and know and do for
themselves. These, and only these, shall
lead the way in science, in literature, the
arts, the industries. in business, in the
professions--in every department of
American labor and life. Nay, these are
already leading the way in all the ave-
nues of thought and work, and many of
them-may | not say most Of fthem-hsve
come from the farms, where the seeds of
self-help and independence were planted
and nourished, while the fruit of this
vigorous plant was gathered elsewhere
and the fruit, not the plant, is recognized
by the world.
While this isa natural legacy of the
farm, it is not always bequeAthed to the
boys and girls. There are young farm
ers who are simply as hired servants to
their fathers and mothers, without the
hire. They toi. year in and year cut
have no personal interest in any part of
the farm, are never consulted to its man
agement, and never expect to be; and
when suddenly they are pushed out of
tie home nest, they have neither strength
Of wing nor purpose to help themselves.
Is it any wonder? ave learn to do by
doing" is an established principle in
modern education, and it applies 10 farm
life as well. Distinctly do | remember
how for the first time brother and
were given potato ground of our own.
With what interest we planted and plow-
ed and hoed those potatoes, and all in
the spare hours from the regular farm
labor. We got an abundant crop aud the
benefit ofs good market With what pride
/ took from my share the first subscript-
ion price to the Youths Companion, and
bought the first books could call my
own.
Yes, let the boys have a corner of the
farm to cultivate for themselves, or
share in the livestock. Let the girls
have personal interest in the garden,
the flowers, the dairy, or the poultry, not
as gift, but as the product Of their own
management and labor. II convenient,
lie; the older ones have bank account
In short, let the farm be & partnership in
which every member Of the family shall |
havea personal interest and mutual |
concern. As senior partners you will I
realize better and more willing servies,