FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI. 567 



THE IDEAL HIRED MAN. 



H. P. Nicholson, Ossian, Iowa, Before the Winneshiek County Farmers^ 



Institute. 



That there is such a person as the ideal hired man jwill not admit of a 

 doubt, although there may be some who will question the fact. Now there 

 being such a person, the question is raised, must he be found or can he be 

 made, and, if so, how? He is a person who has already been found and as 

 a rule is found stopping for a considerable length of time in one and the 

 same place. As a rule he is not a very migrating sort of person, but, on 

 the contrary is one who is seldom out of a job, and one whose help is much 

 sought after. In the first place, the hired man has much to do in making 

 himself, so if the hired hand is not an ideal one, he has himself mostly to 

 blame. Many opportunities present themselves, which if he is watchful, 

 careful and on the alert to improve, will contribute much to his benefit. 



The ideal hired m.an will be considerate of the rights of his employer. 

 He will be honest and never idle away the time that belongs to his employer, 

 for it is just as wrong to steal his time as it would be to steal his cash, and 

 he will be just as careful of the property of his employer as though it be- 

 longed to himself. The ideal hired man must possess all the virtues and 

 some of the vices of the average human being. He must be watchful and 

 careful of his speech and manner, for our best and dearest are often en- 

 trusted to his care. Oftentimes he must be the ''Master" and assume all 

 the responsibility for the time being, and he must awake to all the farm's 

 best interest, not to the farm's detriment. There should be inculcated a 

 love for his work, not simply a love for the results obtained from the labor 

 done, but a love for the growing things, for the wide out-of-doors, for the 

 animals that claim our attention, and with it, care for the best results pos- 

 sible, for in them are our dollars and cents. 



The hired man must be a born farmer to reach ideal conditions. We 

 often say of them who succeed in certain lines, that they are a born ma- 

 chinist or a specialist to whatever their calling may be, so why not say born 

 farmers. Unpleasant surroundings have driven many an ideal farm hand 

 to less lucrative occupation and one for which he has no liking, conse- 

 quently he never attains success. 



But at the same time the duty of the employer must not be lost sight of. 

 The employer must be just with his help, he should treat them as he would 

 like to be treated were he in their places. While particular and observant he 

 should avoid being too exacting. If ever out of patience concerning their way 

 of doing anything, or on account of some mist'ake made, it is best to think 

 twice before speaking once. Always be prompt in payment of dues for labor 

 preformed. Strive as hard to please the hired man as you would have him 

 strive to please you. Better cpnsult one another in regard to work rather 

 than be overbearing in your commands. In planning your work treat the 

 hired man as though you had confidence in his judgment By pursuing 

 this course it will do much toward making the ideal hired man. It is a good 

 place to exemplify the principle of reciprocity. The employment of farming 

 is the most honorable in the world, and one in which pride and pleasure 

 should be taken for more than it is today. But the world moves, and the 

 day will come when to be a farmer will be to have reached the heights of 

 earthly possibilities. Then learn, ideal hired man, to labor and to wait. 



