The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-30

There has been great deal of talk
about Virginia boys leaving tho yir-
g.nia farms to seek fortunes, good or
bed. In Virginia cities or the cities, or
even upon tho farms. OF other States
There has been something in this talk
and there can be no doubt that Vir-
sina has suffered some along this
line. But times and conditions arc
changing, and the Virginia boys are
better schools, better churches, tele-
phones all along the country roads.
and other modern advantages and
equipments are making country life
In Old Virginia just az attractive and
maybe little more SO than any kind
of city life. The boys and the girls
of the country arc beginning to find
this out. and the time Is not FAR dis.
tant when there Will be no more talk
about the country boys and the coun-
try girls trying TO get away from the
"backwoods."
The Industrial Section is in receipt
OF n Jolly letter from a nine-year- old
country boy that Is as cheering as the
early morning crow of Southamp-
ton county chanticleer The letter
comes from southampton county
boy, whose post-ofice bears the true
NphAaNAs i'AAtN vi ulIIphiU. can
hardly refrain from expressing the
wish that they had called IL .'Punkin,'
but l won't quarrel about that.
Here is this young farmers letter
Editor Industrial Section:
Sir am nine years old-a nine
year-old farmer az that The picture
OF myself which l am sending you
with this letter was taken three years
ago, just when was taking my first
lessons in the art of plowing--I mean
the year began to plow. Later on. II
you want 1t. / will send you my pic
ture taken while driving Charlie and
Black Boy hitched to my cultivator
being used in the making of my corn
crop. You see, I am corn grower
all right. l go to school five days in
the week. and burn ashes every Sat
urday to be used on my corn land I
am not going TO let other Virginia
boys know just yet what else l put
around my corn to make 1t great, but
will tell you, boys, / am right after
that first corn prize at the next State
Fair. l tell you. Mr.. Industrial Edi-
tor, love the farm and everything
that is on 1t. / make 1t point to
ride every mule, horse and calf on
these premises I would ride the hogs.
too. but they are a little too slow for
me.
/ have found that the way TO ride a
calf or mule either. guess. is to
go right at him. get on his back and
stay there as long as you can, and
then get back on his back just as Of
ten as he throws you off Keep this
up right along and never let the calf
think you are afraid OF him, and af-
ter while you Will have the calf I'M
der control. I reckon 1t Is the same
how, am going to work it on them
when I get little bigger. I would
do It now If my dear mother was not
SO scarry and nervous.
have brother off at school study
ing for what he calls a profession. I
love him and hope he will get all he
wants. want an education. too, and
I am going to have 1t, but no profess
sion for me. I am going to stick to
the farm. and I reckon when I can
raise the best corn and other crops
and have the best stocked farm in
my section, my professional brother
will not be in it with me-will he. Mr..
Industrial Editor?
Very truly yours
GORDON POWELL hGRIzzARD.
p. S.-Mr. Industrial Editor,-Nly
father says I may go to the next State
Fair and carry sample of my corn
] am not so anxious for prize as I
am to meet there other farmer boys
from all over the State. I hope you
will arrange to have many Of them
there from all parts of the State.
G. p. G.