The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-03-15
About the Fireside.

therefore a short introduction will not be out of
place in this, my first letter, for your depart
ment. [ am a school teacher up in old lredell.
For eight or ten years [ was a professional
teacher, but now | am a farmer too. You see
when one is impressed with the high and noble
purpose of "teaching the young idea how to
shoot" it is hard to get away from 1T. 1t is hard
work, and often much ~vexation is connected with
it, yet there is something closely akin to the sub
lime in the work of the schoolroom. Having
been Intimately associated with many hundreds
of youths as my pupils, a sense of obligation has
taken possession of me in the direction of the
moral training of the young. 1t is this feeling
that impresses me to contribute a few lines to
your columns, to encourage you in your noble
work, and to help some one, if I may, to better
employ his or her time, and to encourage the
young to practice those virtues which alone can
make us an intelligent and happy people.
| consider the family circle as the foundation
of our social fabric, and the principles of life
fixed in this limited sphere in childhood and youth
become our polar star which must direct US amidst
the multitudinous and changing scenes of life.
| read your Circle letters and enjoy them very
much. | want to add my mite. The question I'M
der present discussion, "How to Spend the Even
ings at Home,' is indeed an important one. Two
1NA hCNS VI IN "N SAN"OAJ CASOCCN W Win A0OAS
and customs of treside social life. First, and of
present Importance, is the pleasure parents and
elderly persons may derive from evenings well
spent at home, and, secondly, are the opportuni-
ties we have for impressing upon the young, by
precept and example, those ideas of home which
must be important in every breast in order that
we may have a land of happy homes and con-
tented people. The love of home is instinct in all
the animal creation, in man as well as beast, and
it is only when the ideal of home is lacking, or
when home is made miserable, that we or our
children seek for happiness and pleasure else
where. The right kind of home is never dull and
never unattractive.
How we should spend our evenings must be
determined by the surroundings and conditions
of each individual family. What would be suit
able for one family might make another miser-
able. There are, however, a few things common
to us all from which both profit and pleasure may
be derived. These are reading, conversation,
should never be wanting, and there are other
means of pleasure and enjoyment thinking peo-
pie may employ, but | consider the above for
the average country home (and it is for these [ am
writing) quite sufficient. The reading should in
clude a select library, two or three newspapers, a
few good farm papers, at least one religious pa
per, and a magazine or two. The moral tone of
these should all be wholesome, and, when the
children's textbooks are included, the time will
be quite taken up. The reading should be care
full, interspersed with frequent discussions of i'm
portant events, and with the view of increasing
knowledge and developing faculties.
The conversation should be wholesome, free
from gossip, and of that free freside character
which would interest every member of the family.
The tactful mother should always interest the
little ones with infantile stories-but my paper is
growing too long.
F. s