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Farmers' Homes

Farmers' Homes image
Parent Issue
Day
24
Month
February
Year
1886
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

We will assert what often is adinitted, ttnit the foundation of B nation's prosperity lies iu the prospeiïty of lier agricultura; and tliat prosperity depend in a frreat mensure on the intelügence of the "tillers of the soil;"' therefoie, whntever mea np may lead to the improyement of tlic farmer, strengthens the pillars that support the eulightetuv] nation's existeuce. As oue step In this improvement I wisb to siy a little ibout the inner life of farmer' homes; of the homes tliat not only tninish the bone and sinewof the country, but the well-balanced .intellect M well. We fi-el prtde in the Ion;: aiiiy of namcs illustrious in the world's h'istory tbat carne f rom the farm. Look at boute; the active, successful business men of our smaller towns. l)id not a majority spend their bovlmod days on the farm? Vhere would Boou be our cities wcre they not coiitlnually repliüiished with the rigor of mimi and body that tomes frora the rugged toil of our country homes? As one iid to the liappiness and usefulness of our homes I will mention the proper training of children, tlioujrh I may speak plalnly, yet let it be in kindnesg. I have heard sonie parents s;iy they could not punish their child, for fear if t shnuld die tlu'y would alwars repret the punIslimept. But are you not wrong there? Dlsobedience t' reasonable andjust dmands never brought happincss, frum the creation down to the tpresent time. An obedient child is mtich happier tlun a disobedieut oue. Always take time to correct a child, 110 matter if hou-ehold aui-6 are presaing; no matter if the men stand impatitntly waiting for diunei', uitend to the most neceasary duty lirt-l. (Jonect the child then and there. l'elhaps you will tind your own angcr rising, f so, chastize youisclf tiit. I feel sorry when I hear a niollier say, "I will teil your father when b oomH iiomu, and ht will punish you," for that child is quick aaaugfa to lee, ancl will look fur otiier uuthortty theu liis uiothei's to control him. Never be afraid of mukinf; the little ones too happy. It takes but littlu money. Their little play houses of rougl boards, or in the shade of a tree, witl acorn cups for dislics, and Johuny cake tor cakes and pies; ui iin.iüon iu their little minds will 9upply all deficiencias and then if you, molher, will put 01 bonnet and shawl and rnake the little tolk a vixit, their happinees will be com píete, and you can iet acquainted with yutir own children; for unnatural na it seemf, there ure homes in tliis free lam o; ours wheie Duna and teacher have more intlucnce, and umierstand bitie the needs of their charffes than the par Kuts themselves; in tact aro better ac quainted. 1 know of iKithing more pleaaaut thai a well-governed home. Il moves like perfect, well-olled machine, no h?rl grmtlnf, and it ntil long. On the other side, it is sad to contémplate th probable tale of uiany of the inmate of disorderly homes ; huw they are jjiow Ing up to HU our pobr houses. WOïl houses and prisons. Another thing I would like to mentint whirh we wnnetimet see in farmers homes, is the eiTing the bny a calf o colt, as the case nmy be, and then vvhei he lias taken care of il, and pelted il a his"vcry own." do not takc it from bim ilo not destroy bis trott in you; do no give him that fearful, thal bitter lessoi in dishonesty. Children have sume right which you lüoai(l regard, that they ma_ Kam in alter years to regard jours. Our homes need ihe relininj; iufluence of Uowers house plant! and nuikfej ii trutli thev are becoiniug almost paeem riet of lite. TaKe your wiie to the city occasionally to vu-H hor city rmisiu, and see if slie does not picU ap soino idea, rnid brillé to her household MBIC relinemunt or improvement of life thatwo farmers nced. are thlrttlue for, and are going to havo, too, "by amí-liy." LttyeuronUdrwn batveioma pets, somttbing t care for, to lom 11 wIU do tbem good. Respect tlieir feellogSt and do nol neodk'.sly kick puss (ir culi' tlie cloj;. Strive to liave a viiriety of friiita iu oicliards, and abundaucc of unall fruits in tliu garden, so that all cun have uil tlM want, and tbc neiglibors across tbe way a disliful, too, occasionally, vvith the inforinatioii that they are welcome lo all the plants they wish. Teil tbc boys they muy have a nice watermellon patch, if they will take care of it. That water melón patch will have wouderful attructious In its scason; iu short, farmers Mghl to have an abundanco of the best t t-verything that the ulltnate and hoü vil I yield. Encourago in your childreu any tenncy to love of nature. If they bring d a handtul of cowslip blossoms, ;iiihem a vase or teacup, soniethlng to ut hem iu. If yoiir ittlc boy weaH holoa 11 big pocket ttith the pretty tone hu ieksup in the tield, don't discourage him. but tind him a place to put thein, anl jHltcntly mend Itla pockeU. It is lï-l.-iidl of the great painter Benamin West, tbat when very younf, he was lelt to rock his little sister; tbo buhe railed in ber sleep, whicb so p'.eased him hal lic took paper and drew her llkenegs. rVliin his imither entered the room and uw the drawing, she did nut tear It up, nor hum it, nor cbide him for wastinir paper, but In a pleased surprise, that nust have been very eucouraging to the oung artiet, cxclaimud: " Hlens me, '.cniiy ba drawu a likeuess of little Sally!" AmooK the many good tbings that we must have for our homes, are books, wliicli are so plenty and cheap that the rouble is to know wbat to cboose. ] hink if sonie one competent to the duty would recommend a short list for farmer's families, it might bc of benefit. Among the newtipaper reading of the armer, politlcal reading should not be 1 1 'i. out. 1 have beard many farmers gay, 'You can't toll mucb by reading the iaht." I hui af raid they don't read much, and only one sirte at that. I am afraid they don't know wfaat our congrussmeu uv doing, and they cannot vote for the rilit, or their o.wn interest, even. VVe leed more farmers qualitied for our legulativu halls. Wc can spare some oí the awycw and mere politiciang. It is uecessnry to get a liking for study, or if there s a taste for reading the books willcume. I think if our country schools taujjht a more extensivo cnurgi it woulcl nstill a desiie for furtlwr studv. Phyicnl ({eography would shnrpen the sppetite for more knowledfft-; physlolofry, witb a cbaptr on the eiTect of liquor and tobáceo on the evstein, mlght save some who do not thluk it does much mrin uittil they learn by experionce. The writlnjf of compositions hould not je neglected; it can bf commenoed quite young Uotany can barilly be left out, tto useful on the farm, such delightful oplortuuitie for is study in fleld and vvoiid, .lint it ought to be called the "farmer'.book " naitber can we throw aside polltcal economy. Many cao go only to the district school, and it Is this class we wish to get interested in study and reading, so they may learn at home, and swell the ranks of that great aritiy of our wisest and best men nd women - the self-educated. Uut you say tli.it these Ptlidiw, id n(hlltlon to thoae usually taught, take too much time. Yes, there is the freat trouble, want of time. Farmer's families, fïoin the father down, need more time for study tor recreatlon, tor sociabillty. 1 own "I love the fanner's life dearly," but also own that I do not take its labor cheerily." In looking over some old papers the other day, I saw two different statements by two different women boasünjf of the variety and amount of work accomplished in one day. Diseouraged I threw down the papers, and took up another that had jnst been brought in the house. On the first page was an article advising farmers to take their families to the mouataim, or the seashore, fbr that rest and change so much needed. W'eli, that wns more ajfreeable; I was not difcouragel at rhat. It proved, to my mlnd, at lenst, that th8 much had been gained in the past twenty-five yearg, that the farmers' family needs rert and chanjfe, and when it ia fully reallred, wlll It not bc arted unf So vp trust; and tliat it my nu longer bc said farmera' wives and ilaugliters are rilling our insano asylums, It is a problem I have long been trying to solve, to get the proper balance between the houtehold labor of the farm and the needed study and rest. I bare not succeeded to ray own satisfactinn, and must admit tny defeat. Do notunderstand me to counsel a lifc of lnzy ease. It is intendud that we work; it is for our good and happines. It is noble to labor, bul too muih toil is as degrading as too much oase. To the end that we mav find tiiat happy medium between work and rest. and thus make our farm homes the one spot lovely on carth, let up, like the school boy, 'trv. trv apsm."

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Courier
Old News