Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-07-19
Keeping Boys on the Farm.

O~Ao@t oAASs aC.
Keeping Boys on the Farm.
(By one who left IT,
Be sure and always talk "hard times
even il you are making as much as yoi
ever did on the farm. IL oats, hay, po
tatoes aud some other crops did well
kick about the corn crop. Don't fai
TO draw comparisons between the grant
salary of perhaps $500 a week being
made by some mechanic you may hap
pen to know, aud the income of far
mer. OF course mechanics never have
any lay-off aud draw full pay the yea
round.
Be sure to get the growing boys VI
early in the morning. You need not ge
up as early yourself.
Have the boys feed the calves anC
pigs and never think of helping them al
any other disagreeable job you do moi
like to do yourself.
Keep the boys busy all the time.
Play-spells are useless waste of valu,
able time.
Never allow them to 60 fishing or
tramp the woods with a gun for they
might in that way learn something OF
the joys of country life. When you
drive to town, don't ever take the boy
along for he might enjoy it if you did.
Boys have no great political ideas to
dispense on such trips at the village
blacksmith shop.
Should there happen to be picnic
near your neighborhood, plan some
work at that time that requires their
help. The boys would appreciate this
as they seldom care for country picnics.
When you find it necessary to get the
boy a new suit of clothes get suit four
or five sizes too large for him, telling
him that as he is growing, the suit will
soon hit him. This will please the boy
as they usually like TO have clothes
pretty we'll worn out before they get
near fitting them. Be sure to
get cheaper clothes for the boys than
you get for yourself for boys don't know
the difference anyway; besides most of
them would spoil good suit quicker
than cheap one. Boys take no pride in
their clothes as a rule. Ii you tell your
self this often enough you will believe
il.
When the boy needs a haircut wait
till the village boys begin TO poke fun at
him by calling him girl on account of
his long hair. This is real pleasant, To
the boy.
When you haven't tools enough to
supply all hands, see that the boy uses
the fork or hoe with the broken handle.
It's another waste to let the boy use
good tools.
If you have idle horses in the stable
never allow the boy TO drive one at any
time. Be sure TO tell him that he is not
to be trusted with horse.
When you are short of help in haying
time, keep the boys pitching hay with
the men. Overworking growing boys
for few days would do them no par
ticular harm.
II the boy happens to own apet calf,
a hen or two or something OF value, sell
it with other things at your regular sell
ing time aud keep all the money. No
matter il il was a present from some
relative or even if be earned it himself.
Keep the money just the same, for what
do boys need money for anyway? Boys
soon forget such acts and they tend to
create fondness for farm life.
Never ask his advice or opinions as to
crops or crop management as he would
not appreciate the compliment, and his
ideas would be of no practical value.
Don't allow the boys-or girls either
for that mstter-to visit other young
people in the neighborhood. Argue
that when they are away you are afraid
that they will get into mischief; also
argue that you do not want a lot of
young folks in the house for they always
make so much noise.
Don't fail to remind him occasionally
that he does not do enough work TO earn
his salt. He may have his own ideas
about that but no matter.
In summer, put in long hours of labor
in the field and then do the chores after
sundown so that by the time they are
done it will be time to go to bed. Iu
this way there is no time for foolish
r, creation.
Make no provision for entertainment
or instruction to occupy the long winter
evenings.
Don't keep in touch with your agri-
cultural experiment stations, nor buy
any books ON farm topics as none OF
them are any good anyhow. If anybody
suggests that you subscribe for good
farm paper and a poultry publication,
Just kick about the expense and say that
the county paper you now take ought to
be enough. Should any of the family
suggest any of the better class maya
z nes, turn your wrath loose.
When you use the grindstone and the
boy is turning it for you, be sure to bear
on well. Perhaps his back is stronger
than yours was when boy. Never oil
the bearings of the grindstOne for that
might make it turn easier. Well, the
boy needs the exercise anyway.
Also remind him at meals that he eats
more than man.
Don't provide any kind of music or
other attractive things for the home as
such things are too expensive.
The parlor should be kept closed so
il will smell musty. Those that have
psrlors should keep them only for fun
erals and the like.
Don't provide the boys room with any
comfortable chairs or useless pictures
and books.
IL the boy should be ambitious enough
to want better education than that
afforded by the district school, just
growl at the idea and say that farmers
don't need high-toned educations to
show them how to milk cow. Perhaps
that line of argument is convincing-to
you.
Why don't the boys stay on the farm9
Yes, why don't they9
Mister farmer, are you doing any OF
all of these things to the boy under your
roof? While all of these things did not
occur to the writer, some of them did
and the other things happened to Other
boys we knew. Also some things not
mentioned just as disagreeable.
Country boys are often attracted to
the city by its lights, gaiety, and &C
tivity, simply because they have never
had called to their notice the more oil
less foul atmosphere, the fierce com.
petition, the pushing aside, the poverty,
the political graft and many other uu
desirable things of big city, and to a
less extent in smaller places.
Twenty years ago yearly, the writer
of these lines left the farm Yes rar