Why Children Dislike Farm Life.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2453, 31 March 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

Why Children Dislike Farm Life.

In the first plac<>, they are not brought np to h>ve tin 1 country ; they arc curly accustomed to hear both father and mother about the hardships of farm life. Then there is too much work and too littlo play for them. The boy works iu the field all day, and his littlo opportunity for amusement in the evening is cut, short by a long range of "odd jobs" till bed time ; moan while bis sister has much the same experience iu the house. And no agricultural college in this land will restore what their parents have blindly allowed them to lose. Study the inclination of your children. If a boy hates one kind of farm work and likes another, don't make him do what ho dislikes all the time, but so far as possible let him do the agreeable work. When he offers sultgestions or forms plans, don't laugh at him, however impracticable they may bo ; but if thorn i- anything iu them nialco the most of it, point out his mistakes, and encourage him to use his thinking powers. Keep your daughter at home by getting for her, as far as vou are aide, some of ihe tilings she practically likes —a magazine, a croquet, set, or an organ ; and let tier carry out some of her pat plans for improving I he (lower garden and front yard. And if you have given her some domestic anim il, anil allowed her to pet it end regard it as her very own, don't sell it and pocket the money. Let her keep it, and dispose of it as she will Lot a «rift alwrivs bo a real one. Don't drive your ohilrlreu aboil', farm work', but teach them and train them so that they may consider it happiness t.o fallow in your footsteps. 'Peach your girls to discriminate bet.'.ecu a fop or tailor-made man and a true man ; at the saiee time teach your boys to dress better and , if possible see thatthoy have means for doom so. A Suuday suit anil a working suit, which is more than likeiy patched and faded, are not enough. Let each have another, corresponding to the business man's every day suit ill town ; so that, when lie goes away to town on a week day, he may neither feel humiliated by his clothes, which are good enough to do work in, nor feel foolish in his Sunday best 011 a common occasion. Teach your children to be proud of farm life for its independence, freedom from petty annoyance and temptations, and its importance as one of the world's industries. Another essential plan is to give ambitious children some piece of ground to cultivate for their own, or something iu which they take a great personal interest, and from which they have the income to use as they please. And in everything about the farm, try to show them the reasons of things and processes, that they may feel that they are learning something, and that the farmer's lot need not be one of ignoranco. Lastly, the social longings of young people must be gratified. Provide them with plenty of good reading matter, and encourage all legitimate literary, musical and social entertainments. Youth is not contented without society, and ought not to be.—Agricultural Show Gazette.