The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-08-01
THE HOME BEAUTIFUL

can raise it as easily as alfalfa ana
potatoes. The pioneer stage with It's
hard struggles is past. We OF the
Rocky mountain region are in new
era now where we can afford the
home beautiful It should be the most
attractive place on earth-a precious
memory for children in all the after
wears. recall two homes-one IS
surrounded with flowers. It was
beautifully transformed by the own
err In the rear was grove OF spruce
which he planted himself. The rows
were like aisles in grand temples.
The trees were like columns, support
ing that arch of green. The grove
was full of playhouses and playthings
All The influences we're purifying and
inspiring. How the children loved
that home and when they went away
how eager they were to get back
again and when they grew up they
wanted to settle near it. The other
is a bleak home, out on the great
prairie. There is the eternal grind
In the yard, not a bush or tree or
flower. In the house not carpet or
rocking chair no pictures nor maya
zines. It is work, work. The father
is like one of the old slave drivers;
the children slaves. Results-there
beautiful girls who might have made
noble wives and mothers, were easily
lured to the bad. You could write
ruin on their blighted lives. Anything
was better, they thought, than such
dreadful, dreary drudgery. The five
boys left as soon as they could get
away-only one amounted to any
thing. The others became hoboes,
These might have been noble men,
leaders in society, enterprising farm
ers~ Father and mother are left all
alone in their desolation. Every child
was as eager to get away as convict
to escape prison. Nothing could call
them back. The man had his money,
SIS, 900, but the children are gone,
sold by their own father. Does this
pay? A father once said to me, 81
am having trouble with my boys, I
have lost control of them, and some
times they steal my money. / am
afraid they are going to the bad" He
wanted me to visit him. The man
had built afine store in nearby town
he had half section of land but was
living in poor, sod house, and his
boys had to go to bed in a stuffy gar
ret so low thcy had to crawl into bed
on all fours. He never encouraged
them or paid them anything. They
worked hard and thot they should
have some remuneration if they had
to steal it. Right here, let me say,
the boy is good deal as his father
moulds him. A man should keep his
promises to his son almost sacred
and on no account violate it. He
should see that his son keeps his
promise to him to the letter. Some
fathers have made written contracts
with their boys. Everything is in
black and white so that either can
point out any lack on the other side.
In contrast with the sod house den,
] visited another father who built a
new house and saw that his boys had
one of the finest rooms. was visit.
ing him and noticed that the two
sons, sixteen and eighteen, were TAX
ing hold of the work as IL they own
ed the place. They seemed to show
good judgment and acted as If the
whole responsibility were on their
shoulders. I congratulated the ia
Their. He said, II pay the Oldest boy
eighteen dollars month and the
other twelve dollars. I want them
to have some self respect, and feel
that they are earning something and
it teaches them how to take care of
their money and we live for our
children anyway. What incentive
would we have without them?" Too
often children have less attention
than cattle and horses. Oh, the
shame of it, when they should be
trained as kings and queens for
royal heritage. Strange, the parent
can not look over into the future and
see an ideal for that little toddler-