The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-03-15

away from it, and if his means admit
TO enter some college or seminary to be
ntted for some professional life or to
seek employment in some mercantile
or manufacturing capacity.
Another great evil, next to isolation.
Is the number of hours of labor and
want OF system on the farm. Nothing
VIII more quickly dull the intellect.
impair physical vigor and break down
the strongest constitution more than
TOO many hours of work. The idea of
man working twelve hours every
DAY OF his life, having no time for rest
or recreation, is enough to dishearten
any boy. He soon learns that i'm other
professions he may not have more than
nine or ten hours of labor, and that he
tnen has at least four and six hours for
rest and mental improvement.
He feels that his life is nothing but a
round of mere drudgery and slavery.
but still you say to your boy, 1--WE al
ways did work from daylight till dark
and we must continue to do SO or we
cannot get through with the work.
If he wishes few hours holiday some
afternoon and you cannot spare the
Time. do you think that your boy will
for himself?
Then, it is generally thought and
very often remarked that a man does
not need much education to be a farm
er, or it is supposed that when he is
unfit for anything else he will still do
for Il farmer.
| claim there is no calling that de-
mands of man u more thorough bust
ness education than that of farmer.
You don't allow your boy to have any
school advantages and tell him they
are for other callings. In our present
day it requires considerable learning
and education to determine the best
paying products, what it costs to pro-
duce certain crops, how to breed differ
cut kinds of stock and the amount of
labor expended on different objects.
etc.
| think there should be In our coun-
ty schools the system of book keeping
more generally taught than it is at
present. We fiud that there is too often
lack of home amusements, that
make our boys seek pleasures at the
village store or other attractive places
elsewhere, which do not tend to inn
prove their moral character or to EN-
courage habits of industry. No home
is so poor that it cannot be supplied
with good reading matter, treating on
all subjects of agriculture and other
topics in which you can interest your
boy. Take an active part in discussing
those subjects freely with him, allow
him to express his opinion; they may
be visionary and not have much logic
in them, but do not suppress him so
harshly that he Will try to avoid you
instead of coming to you with every
project that he may be concerned in.
If there are some small improve
ments which he would like to make
around the premises which would add
to the comfort ana convenience, let
him make them, and do not forget
/ that this is an age of improvement.
Do not teach him that farm labor
should be cheap but that 1t should re-
ceive as good pay as good merchants,
clerks or employees in other callings,
for as soon as you do this you lessen
the dignity of farm labor in his estima-
ton and he begins to think that any
cheap hireling can take his place and
! yearns to seek other employment that
pays better wages.
DO not always be complaining OF
hard times on the farm.
Keep correct accounts of all the pro-
ceeds of sales and show them to him
He will be surprised at the amount OF
money derived from all sources on the
farm and also the outlay that it costs
for necessities The money spent fol
buggies and driving horses, and al
other objects should be carefully kept
in sight and every dollar that your
boy earns. Give him patch of ground
on which to raise some crop. 1t will
interest him in the cultivation of the
soil. A pig or calf, or some young
stock to raise for his own will interest
! him in stock
Give him pocket money occasionally
and by these means teach him self.
reliance aud show him by example
that if you would make a success OF
anything you must give it your undi
vided attention and that the farm i:
not exempt from this.
| think, in the few facts have Civ
en-, you will fiud much to do with oul
boys seeking other professions.