Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1922-07-05
THE MODERN FARMER
(Will S. Gidley.

| Inc stubborn SltDe Is bTOheH ny
| His tractor-driven plow;
Before his steel-toothed reapers
| The ripened wheatfields bow.
Where once he stood to whet the edge
OF his slow moving blade,
He rides in ease and leaves behind
The grain in bundles laid.
No scrubs of cows now Craze the fields
Where the modern farmer dwells;
But Holsteins, Jerseys, Guernseys
sleek
Now wear the tinkling bells
From hilltop home the farmers looks
Down on the world below;
He sees the motor cars and trains
Go shutting to and fro
The busy tide of commerce goes
Each week day past his door
But he is left in peace to dwell
Outside it's ceaseleSs roar.
He owns the earth-the farmer does
What else can equal this?
Contentment waits on all his steps,
His lot is filled with bliss
We country boys, turn not your backs
Upon the old home farm;
No other life's so free as this;
There's none with half the charm,
am aware that, from the nationa!
capital to the remote sections of our
country, the farmer is a prominent
figure in the public eye. Sometimes
it would seem, from what we read,
that farming is a most discouraging
occupation, but how would life be
sustained by the millions inhabiting
the United States without the
farmers?
] suppose people living in the
rural districts should be grateful
for the interest shown in their public
schools, and the management or
their farms. After all, seed time
and harvest" come in their appointed
course: and with Senator Capper in
Washin gton, the grangers all over
the country. the agricultural col
leges, the experiment stations, the
boys and girls clubs, we may have
reason to hope that the abandoned
farms" may be reclaimed and that
everywhere the earth may yield her
increase.
Now you will know why | used the
above poem. 1t is the country boys
that we must look to mostly, to per-
petuate the farms. While all this
discussion of tariff and railroad rates
is going on, just remember the farm
ers are busy each one "hoeing his
own row. w
If you, readers and members of
the Column, had known the time l
have spent thinking what | could
write Of this week that would be of
interest, none of you would criticize
whatever you may find herein. | am
glad to know so many of you are en-
joying the Homecoming of some of
your families, and that others have
been away to visit children in their
homes. The day of reunion is APP
preaching, though by mutual consent
we will not mention any date con-
nected with other county gatherings.
The following is an editorial writ
ten by Elinor Briefly of the National
kindergarten association, and was
reprinted in the Rural American:
Very important to the future welfare
of the world is it that the children
to-day be taught the principles of
justice, love and brotherhood in their
widest and broadcast sense. Teach the
child that everything that has life is
his brother, to be treated with kind
ness. love and justice.
The little girl who learns that her
kitty needs her loving care, needs
sleep, good food and careful handling,
is learning lessons in moth erhood
which she will never forget. The boy
who learns that his rabbits and other
pets share many of his own needs and
that he stands in place of father to
them, is being trained in parenthood,
and when the child has learned that
his animal pets have the same right
to life and happiness that he himself
has, it is not likely that he will treat
his human companions unjustly in
after life.
In the home should begin this teach
ing of which brotherhood is the key
note The wise mother will not teach
her child cruelty, however uninten-
tonally, by giving him toy guns,
swords and whips. Rather, will she
teach him compassion and thoughtful
care of others by training him to carry
his Teddy bear carefully, to pat, not
whip, his hobby horse, to love his ami
NAL toys yet more when manned or
halt or blind" than when in their first
glory. She will teach him that all
animals are mans friends until he
himself turns them into foes. She will
explain to him that the dog which
| banks at him is merely saying good
morning" and he must answer with a