West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-12-26
How to Keep the Boy on the Farm.
paper read before The Preston County
Farmers Association at Reedsyille. Dec.
ember I4th. by Thos L. Loar.

ember I4th. by Thos L. Loar.
Except wind stands as never II stood.
| II is ill wind turns none to good.
We work for our bread hence. every
phase OF life has it's story. its tragedy.
its romance.
Intricate and complex Is existence here.
even though there be but two ways to co.
the right way and the wrong way: and IL
the young man and maiden whose feet are
lingering in soft green meadows and
howery paths. will consider these two
ways soberly and earnestly before moving.
onward. and choose the one that truth
and reason tell them. leads to honor.
success and happiness, they have wisely
chosen the right way.
The other way is too well known to need
| description. Life. to youth. is a fairy tale
| just opened TO old age. tale read
through. ending in death. Fortunate to be
wise in time that we may be happy in
eternity. Then momcntous the decision
as TO which way TO go-what pursuit to
follow Now. while it is fortunate when
a young man likes his fathers business
and prefers to- follow IL. yet. all the boys
! can not remain on the farm; il would be
an injustice to insist upon H. as the
necessary and helping trades all grown
directly out OF the wants OF the farmers
household.
The roots of mechanism and art all
reach back to the farm.
The farm is therefore the founta in head
of the stream of society. However. our
ell -. Al.
farm p implies dearth. a lack Of boys
on the farm-hence the question how to
induce enough to hold fast to their early
ways to keep up the succession of this
honorable and useful way OF life
First. let us consider what imbibes this
proneness in the minds of the boys to quit
the farm
Why do the boys of the farmers home
and heart turn so early from the scenes Of
their childhood to supply a large and
vigorous percentage of the brain. heart.
and muscle of the cities.
We think these questions may be readily
solved their solution floats ever on the
surface. The value Of farm. as the nur.
series Of society. has not been sufficiently
appreciated. First, we take it for granted
from observation and otherwise, that
fertile cause of the boys leaving the farm
is due to parents not fully appreciating the
philosophy of labor-.therefore. over
taxing them AS men learn natures ways.
so will labor be easy and profitable to
them. They must learn to do it in order
and time and not over do il. Because
| labor is useful. IL does not follow that any
| one shall do more than he is able to do
One meal Of vituals at a time does a
hungry man good. but two at time give
quite another result. A little arsenic is
one of our best medicines; little more
is one of our deadliest poiSons Every
thing has its golden mean, and it's value
consists in keeping close to that. Crowd
our boys on the farm so as to make their
labor drudgery and il loses its value just
in proportion as it is over burdened 1t
is the over doing, doing out of time. doing
against talent and taste and dong with
out enlightenment that has put labor
under the ban. and turned many a noble
boy from his healthfu pursuit on the farm,
wholly ignorant of its higher uses and
ennobing tendencies.
To keep the boys on the farm. parents
should train them to make haste slowly.
This word of warning should be kept
before the young continually. not to hurry
through the youthful season. not to cut
II short and weaken its preparations for
adult life. There is so much in adult life
to excite the youthful ambition. to tempt
the unwary feet into its high path. to
quicken the boys desires TO taste its
sweets and enter into its rcalizations.
that multitudes of young men go but
poorly prepared TO assume the duties and
! and cares OF that life which runs on its
summit level through this world into the
shadow of death
Again, we take it that boys may be kept
on the farm by giving them higher con
ception Of farm life and its environments
The sensitive. ambitious youth does not
enjoy hearing it said that he has but the
manners Of pillow boy. Teach him that
such expressions emanate from low CON
ception Of life Teach him that no matter
what may be ones calling. whether presi-
| dent Of college or keeper OF stable
whether polsher of souls or a polisher
OF boots. nor what his place in society.
whether he resides in palace or hovel.
| rides in a barouche or walks on the inde.
| pendent line. or what his talents. whether
/ a genius Of quick insight and great breadth
| and penetration OF thought or a plain
| simple minded man he has need Of essen
| italy the same character. Broaden their
minds and quicken their intellects by
| furnishing them books Of history to read,
/ wherein they may learn that hard hand ed
| rail splitters and mule drivers are the
| human material Of which great presidents
and grand men are made We believe
| that the Lincolns and Garfelds are thick
| all about us, IL we could look through the
hard crust Of outward circumstance that
| conceals them In the brawuy boys Of 10
/ day. Parents. keep your boys on the farm
| by teaching them TO think we'll Of them
selves and by giving them an uplifting
view Of lie on the farm its freedom its
beauty its plenty.
| To us who appreciate what farm life is
| 90 those who enjoyed its carly advantages.
| how dear and delightful in memory is the
| old farm and the blessed old house. and
barn and yard. and garden. where so
| NANNY happy and profitable hours were
| spent. and 20 which many roscatc rccol-
/ lcctions will always reach back
/ Happy the people who we're blest with
I a good farm.l.fc start in the world.
The January Designer.