Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-05-04
THE GIRL ON THE FARM.
Something About "Narrownsss of Farm Life
and Its DISADVANTAGES.

=
and Its Disadvantages
Mrs. Annie B. Bushong in Farmers Voice.
The agricultural papers TEEN with
articles on How to keep the boys on
the farm" but seldom word about
the girls. Now we could not think OF
doing without the boys. Bless the
dear, noisy boys. Their CHEEKY, airy
whistle is the best antidote for the
blues one can take. The girls, pre-
cious jewels, are Just as essential to
farm life as the boys, and farm life is
just as necessary to their full and
evenly balanced development, minds
and bodies, as they to farm life, and
where they are not happy and content
ed in their farm home something is
radically wrong somewhere. If the
father is continually growing about
the mud or dust, the heat or cold, the
tariff, low prices, poor crops, the moth
er about farm drudgery, deprivations,
lack of congenial society, need we
wonder that children growing up in
such an atmosphere will long for
"wider fields, to know and be known
to meet people of note, to listen to the
grand flow OF eloquence from the pull
pit or rostrum," are anxious to flee
from evils they know to those they
know not? My heart aches for child
rem of such homes. The very joys of
life are dashed aside, and they peer
into the dim future with distorted Wis.,
ion and imagine they see honor, sue
cess and happiness, which, when they
meet, is only the black despair of dis
appointment.
Parents, pause and consider the OBJ
legations you are under to your child
rem. This debt cannot be paid with
broad acres or many dollars. A con-
tented spirit, well-balanced mind, a
strong constitution, helpful hands,
temperate habits, honor, love and un-
selfishness are the birthrights of every
child. Just SO far rs they fall short
of this standard you have failed to
start them Alright in this world. When
you fail to teach, by precept and prac-
tice, these holy principles, you rob
your children Of that priceless pearl.
l would be the last person to dis
courage any laudable ambition, but it
is with genuine sorrow l hear girl
lament the " narrowness of farm life"
and express desire for "city or town
advantages" and determination to
seek employment there. To such l
SAY, don't, my dear. Where one, who
has left the farm, succeeds, scores have
failed. Many without sufficient forti-
tude to return to the farm home and
begin where they left off have drifted
to ruin. You will say, this is an old
story. | have heard it before. 1t is
true, nevertheless, as many a wrecked
life, premature grave, will tell you, if
you listen.
If your home is happy, cheerful
one, you are needed there to keep it
thus. If it is q chcerless, discontented
abode, your duty is to make a model
home OF it. Farm life is not narrow,
neither need our lives be narrow on
farm. In no other place, in all this
beautiful world, does nature deal out
her glories with 80 lavish hand. In
no other place are the evils OF life so
completely excluded. In the long win
ter evenings you can meet the noted
writer, the eloquent preacher, the SCI
entifc lecturer, between the lids OF
book or gazine, and meet them at
their best. There they are shorn Of
the petty frivolities that mar the beau
ties Of so many lives. What glorious
hours for study, for acquainting ones
self with gems of thought, for mental
communion with the true, the noble,
spirits of the day! Drive away this
discomfort with plans for Frightening
and beautiiying your home, then put
your plans into action. No duty,
however distasteful, but may be made
a pleasure if you will. Take an inter-
est in everything around you and you
will see it. Work for happiness and
you will get it.