The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-05-20
q N N LETTER.

There is nearly always n indus
trious member in the family, and it
oftentimes happens that others who
are less ready to do things sit quietly
aside and leave all the work for those
that are always willing to try. 1t 1s
sometimes the case that tasks are
given to the willing when they
should be imposed on the lazy. Even
if they do complain and cry over a
job, is it right to shirk duty simply
because of this? It is necessary that
all should work, not in the same way,
but to work is the legitimate way to
live !; and if a child is allowed to
grow up in idleness his struggles in
after years will tell him plainly of
the mistake you are now making in
not teaching him the easiest way TO
do things. It is q comparatively
easy job to train a young horse to
harness or saddle, but wait until he
is full grown and then try to train
him and in spite of your utmost en-
deavors to teach gentleness and
docility he will seem FESTIVE and I'm.
safe. Those things we learn to do
best while we are children we do
easiest when we reach maturity. 1t
is the duty of US older people TO help
the younger members of the family
to be helpful.
All of US are doubtless acquainted
with the Sinking boy or girl, one
who neglects to finish his job, if in
deed he has sufficient courage to be-
gin it. Be thorough. Learn to fin.
ish what you have begun. I have
known girls who were always eager
to begin a new piece of work when,
if the truth were known, they had
odd jobs enough on hand already to
keep them employed several months.
Right here begins the trying of the
patience of the industrious and ever
ready member of the family. She
tires of seeing the unfinished work
tossed from place to place and finally
seizes an opportunity to finish it,
and (let me tell you a ~secret) she
sometimes fails to get the credit of
having done any part of it. A boast
full girl or boy does not hesitate to
say Il did it," when in reality they
did not do more than a hundredth
part.
There are cases wh6re families
almost go to pieces when a certain
vastly better to equalize burdens
and responsibilities? Do not sit
aside and be satisfied to look on
Take hold of the work and help to
do it. Realize that you are being
cheated, robbed of experience that
you will need in after years and
that there is only one for you to OBJ
tain. Learn to do things yourself.
Instead of feeling that his activity
saves you the need of exerting your.
self you should be stimulated and
inspired by his or her earnestness.
After due elaboration the COM
mittee awards Ruby the tucker,
which Mr.. T. B. Parker 80 kindly
offered for the best letter on "The
Spring and Summer Wardrobe for
the Family" But I I'M not posi-
lively certain that I have her initials
right in my record book, and I will
ask that she send me at once her
full name that there may be no
error made in the delivery of the
prize.
We have a band of wide awake
readers as the reply from Nellie to
a statement made in a recent letter
in our corner will show.
Competition for the nice book to
be given for the best article on "The
Old South" is becoming spirited. 1
am expecting a large number of let
tiers. AUNT JENNIE.