TENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK^PART X 595 



in their choice of amusement. To be sure we have young folks who are 

 nearly all sport. They seem to be what is commonly called pleasure mad, 

 I'un into.xicated. That is a bad condition and usually leads to evil. I do 

 not refer to such but to the average industrious, ambitious boy or girl to 

 which class the majority of farm boys and girls belong. And I believe the 

 salvation of many at least of these so-called sport lies or is to be found in 

 better social conditions. I believe many of them might in this way be 

 controlled and led into better ways. Let us not cease to be our brother's 

 keeper. Whether the boy or girl is your son or your daughter or someonb 

 else's son or daughter should make no difference. You are in duty bound 

 to the same responsibility; that is, to bear with their short comings and to 

 do all within your power to promote their welfare. Many parents take a 

 very unjust position in regard to their neightjor's children v/hich can not 

 fail to work very injuriously to the welfare of all concerned. There is a 

 very homely picture in my mind which I think exactly illustrates the atti- 

 tude of many parents towards other parents, children. You have all seen, 

 I have no doubt, a cow with a small calf at her side. She is very tender 

 and watchful of it, but if there happens to be another calf near by just 

 as small and weak as her own she will not hesitate at the first opportunity 

 to send it wallowing in the mud. A great many human parents exhibit 

 this same animal nature and is one of the greatest hindrances to the so- 

 cial welfare of a community. It is well to remember that one cannot 

 throw mud without first soiling one's own hands and that it is absolutely 

 impossible to injure anothers' reputation without first degrading one's own 

 character. We all value our reputation but we should all value our. char- 

 acter infinitely more for reputation is what we are said or thought to be 

 while character is what we really are. 



If w^e wish our boys and girls to be content with their position we must 

 also teach them the dignity of farm labor. They must be taught to know 

 that the boys operating the manure wagon or a riding plow is in every 

 respect the equal of the boy behind the counter and his chances often-times 

 much better. There is no more honorable occupation than that of agri- 

 culture. The young need to have this idea impressed upon their minds 

 from youth. They must also "be taught to love the work by getting them 

 interested in it. Give the girls their flower beds and gardens to plant and 

 tend under your direction at first. Give the boys their own patches of po- 

 tatoes, corn or any crop you think best. Encourage them to study and in- 

 vestigate and in this connection provide them with the necessary reading 

 matter to help them understand. It is a wonderful study this study of the 

 Creator's works and I believe if we make use of our opportunities and ex- 

 ert ourselves to do so, we can teach our children to love God through His 

 works more easily than in any other way. And thus one of the chief aims 

 of our lives would be accomplished. Don't fail also to give the boys and 

 girls a fair share as much as you can afford of these extra earnings. It 

 will help v.onderfully to encourage them and if you teach them the proper 

 use and care of money it will be no loss to you. 



We folks do not expect that all our young folks should remain on the • 

 farm. Indeed this would not even be well. The farmer must also be a 

 man of affairs. He must interest himself in questions of politics and in 



