Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-03-01
A COUNTRY Boys SPORT.
HIS LIFE IS IDEAL FROM A HEALTH
POINT or VIEW

makes Jack a dull boy" While most
of the work done on the farm by
boys is regarded by them as play.
and there is even a scramble among
them for some kinds of il. there are
special recreations which run the year
round. The lines between some kinds
OF work and many forms OF recreation
can hardly be Drawn. There is very
little sport more enjoyable to the
average boy than working on the
roads, when he has much anus ment
In lodging the eye of the supervisor:
In helping the neishobrs to plant corn
or thresh, in apple parings. in stirring
of apple butter in the big copper ket
tie, in corn huskings on the barn
floor. which often winds up with an
cldfasnioned country dance
The fun in special rccrcatioIs be-
gins early in the spring With the
melting OF the last SHOWS the boys
are of for smokers and trout. Just
over the hills from a dozen farms
near me in one way is a fine run for
suckers. and by the other in the
slpoes OF the mountain are 10 he found
the best of trout streams When il is
too wet to pillow or plant oats or corn.
the boys dig worms. get ont the FISH
Ing lines, cut holes along the bottoms
and are of for tine stream at break
OF day. The finest angler in ali our
township is now 65 years OF age. but is
still as spry on n trout stream as a
boy OF Il. One LAY last summer he
caught l2o large trout in half days
fishing He is an old man WHO does
rot take. at least one day of with his
boys for trout. They have no fancy
tackle or baskets. hut they almost al
ways come home with splendid strings
of trout. They nave many laughs at
the city dude who follows them up the
stream with his costly tackle and
comes down without trout When
be asks a country boy for the best
stream ne is often sent up the wrong
branch. hut he usually can buy enough
trout from his successful competitor
: make good showing wnen he re-
turns 10 town.
Then there comes the circus. o1ce
or twice a year. and ii is common for
us farmers to promise the boys that
If they work well all the week they
shall go 10 the circus. This amuse-
ment has standing through the country
generally. Our old minister. who
preached in our valley for so years.
refused once to attend 4 meeting OF
the Blairsyillc Presbytery when il met
in his town lest hcwouid thereby COM
tenancc horcsy. but he attended every
circus that came to the village The
boys pick up all kinds al innocent
tricks from the clown. and il is very
common that next day after hoy mas
been at a circis 10 see him standing
on the horse which he rides in tho
cultivator and the father. VINO holds
the handles. enjoying it all.
Going TO town is always treat. ani
especially going for the mail. watch
gives the golden opportunity Of the
week for sioro-boX gossip On this
accoun; the rural mail system Is not
regarded with favor in some quarters.
as il takes away the stock excuse
which the farmer can give his wife
for trip To the village. But il is
likely IN he a good while before the
United States in,crferes with our nee
essary trips TO the blacksmith and
shoemaker.
The wife usually claims the trip to
town when il comes 10 taking in the
eggs and butter. She is expected to
provide OIL; of hrs produce the grocer
les for the family and an occasional
plug of tobacco for the head of the
house.
An amusement likely 10 occur AT
any time is the old-fashioned screnade.
We had one last summer. The young
couple took a trip TO the county seat
and the night they returned the boys
came from all quarters. with horns.
bells and Crawford county fiddle.
which is made of store box. across
which resined pole is drawn. a city
boy criticised the noise. hut it strikes
most OF us farmers that il is NOT so
bad as some of the machines they
run with crank in the city. One OF
our neighbors tells me that our scren-
ade is as good as the music he heard
in a Chinese theatre in Portland. when
he was out on land excursion last
spring.
Sports OF the fall. work and play
combined. begin before the almanac
indicates the end of summer. Picking
apples. making cider. boiling ample
butter. husking corn. gathering the
pumpkins and similar work made an
amending round Of enjoyment for the
young people. Halloween opens the
season for parties. Sleiehing parties
arc common all winter and we drive
six or eight miles frequently to pass
tas evening. There is always tlc big
supper of chicken ana watflss. and We
cat apples and crack saellbarks after
the games Of the evening are ended.
The winter sports are nov on in my
neighborkood and the jingle of the
sleighbe,l has already been heard. as
we have had snow over a foot deep,
and almost every neighbor has
sleigh. Orr parties often wind up
with the Virginia reel" for whicn /
have sometimes played the fiddle. Sew
eral OF the boys In our region play
the fiddle well. School is the stand
ing enjoyment fer cur children. Their
. dinner baskets are filed with Rambo
IL n nj