310 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. . 



carpeted. There was a toilet stand with all its tasteful appliances, a table with a 

 few books and magazines upon it, and two or three pretty pictures hung against 

 the walls. Passing this, there was a door standing open which gave a view of 

 a large, cheerless looking chamber in which stood two beds in opposite corners. 

 There were three windows, tAvo of which were curtained by an old sheet 

 which had been divided between them, and the other was bare as the glazier 

 had left it. There was no carpet on the floor, no picture on the walls, and the 

 only furniture besides the beds was two or three chairs, a row of clothes hung 

 along the wall at one end, and several pairs of coarse boots and shoes under 

 them. One of the sisters stepped on a little in advance and drawing the door 

 shut, remarked, " 0, that is only the boys' room ; there's nothing in there 

 you'll care to see." Enough was seen, such as it was. 



Now, let common sense ask if it is doing the boys justice to treat them so. 

 There they are, working faithfully in the fields day after day and year after 

 year. The fruit of their labor has gone very far towards building and furnish- 

 ing the house, and yet what enjoyment have they of it 1 They get their 

 meals there, and sleep there, and it is called their home. As much may be 

 said of the old watch-dog in the yard. But mothers protest that boys are 

 always so rough, especially farmers' boys; nothing else can be expected of them. 



Of course not, with such treatment. If they are brought up rude and 

 rough, no one Ciin wonder or blame them if they act so. But should they not 

 in justice have the same chance for life and the full, free, home enjoyment of it 

 jis their sisters have ? Let parents try the boys, and see if they will not improve 

 as well as their daughters in matters of deportment and personal appearance. 

 When they have company let the sons be treated as members of the family, 

 equally entitled to notice and respect as their sisters, and it will soon be found 

 that they will not be behind in contributing to the interest and entertainment 

 of the home circle. Furnish their rooms in a way that will be comfortable 

 and attractive, and see if they do not show a proficiency in the arts of order 

 and neatness that will convince these skeptical mothers that their sous are as 

 capable of being gentlemen as their daughters are of being ladies. Boys 

 should be encouraged to respect themselves, and to try to be somebody ; and 

 should have material given them to do it with. That is, they want a toilet 

 table and glass in their room, with combs, brushes, and conveniences for wash- 

 ing. It is always to be supposed that they have a second suit to put on if 

 occasion requires, and at a very trifling expense a pair of slippers or house 

 shoes could be provided, so that the heavy dusty boots might no longer stand 

 between them and the parlor door. If mothers and sisters were more thought- 

 ful, or less negligent and blamable in this matter, there would be fewer discon- 

 tented farmers' boys in the world, and there would be far more self-respect and 

 refinement among farmers than can be found now. 



Again, sisters are often in the habit of thinking that it is no matter how they 

 dress or talk when " only the boys" are present. That is the very time they 

 should most care. Home is the one place where, of all others, the boys should 

 learn how good, how lovely, and loving woman can be. Sisters can be the 

 making or the ruin of their brothers as they choose. By neglect, unkindness, 

 and unattractive ways, they may create in them a dislike of home, which soon 

 results in the acquirement of loose habits, leading to more vicious company 

 abroad, and too often ending in idleness, profligacy, or crime. Sisters should 

 give their warm home affections to their brothers ; confide in, love, counsel, and 

 encourage them. Above all things should their speech be pure, and their dress 

 and person neat. The boys of to-day are the men of to-morrow ; whatever 

 they are made by their home education now, such, in a great measure, will be 

 the character they give to the future homes they are destined to make in the 

 world. A sister's actions should always say, "All that is lovely, virtuous, and 

 ,pure shall adorn my character, my conversation, and my presence, for the boys 



