The Work on the Farm.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1712, 27 July 1885, Page 3

The Work on the Farm.

The American correspondent of the Dun edit! Star writes ;

The old-fashioned antiquated farmer and his son are placed in a somewhat anomalous position. The old man is content with the improvement and ideas of fifty years ago; he .iocs not see why anybody should want anything better. A home with bare floors, splint bottom chairs, deal tables, horn spoon and cowhide boots, have served him all his life. He goes to meeting on Sunday with ids pants stuck in his boots, and minus a ,hiri collar. He rather likes the music of in organ, but would rather build an addition io ins barn than buy one. As for the books :ho old Bible, “Pilgrim's Progress,” " Baxter's Saints’ Rest,” a volume of old sermons anil a psalm hook constitute his library, and lie wonders what is getting into *’ the boys ” ihat they want carpels on the home floor, pictures on the walls, a well furnished parlour with an organ in it, a bookcase well filled with standard authors, newspapers on the centre table, real, calf boots, nroad-cloth suits, and fine shirts with real collars and cuffs. Their wants call forth earnest diatribes on the degeneracy of the age. The old house was painted once ; that must do. The harn leaks ; but it is cheaper to lose a few tons of hay than tc buy shingles. The fences are rotting : next winter will be a good lime to make rails. The windows need glass; but they are liable to yet broken again. The old waggon has done service fur five years ; it can go a few more without repair. The harness is getting old, but must do another year. The boys must “ serve out their time, ” like so many slaves. The amount of pocket money given to them for faithful sendee would not keep a bootblack in stock for his business, The boys have been to school in the winter months ; inn a daily or weekly paper is such an expense. The old father got along very well without these " new-fangled things ” ; the hoys must. He lives in one world, his boys in another. He wonders why his children tire of home, prefer the neighbor’s home, or in time leave home, run away, flock to the towns and cities, learn trades, accept any menial labor, take any work that will pay their way and prevent a return to their dreaded thankless work on the old farm. The old fashioned fanner works his boys too hard. Rout a boy of lourteen, sixteen, or eighteen out of bed at half-past four or five in the morning, and work him until seven at night, and he is made a white slave. His health is imperilled and his body deformed. People wonder why it is that so many farmers' boys in these Slates are lopshouldered, bow-backed, and otherwise broken down and unable to stand erect. Public attention is being directed to this with a wholesome effect, and our farmers’ homes and farms are being transformed, improved, and beautified.