176 How Much Work for the Country Boy 



"I bought the boy's first spring radishes for table 

 use and permitted him to spend half the money. 

 This seemed to open his eyes. Later I paid him for 

 his other produce. During the second season I 

 emphasized such matters as carefulness in selecting 

 seed and the arrangement and cultivation of the 

 garden produce. Several of the neighbors expressed 

 surprise and delight when they saw the attractive 

 garden. This merited approbation was noticeably 

 effective. Since that time I have had little trouble. 

 I can give that boy any ordinary farm problem to- 

 day and he will work it out most enthusiastically. 

 He has learned the joy of mastery in his work." 



The foregoing somewhat lengthy statement is 

 given with the thought that it may furnish illustrative 

 material to others. It is a mistake to keep driving 

 boys to their work "just because they ought to do 

 it," as one stern father put the matter. But it is 

 altogether fair and advisable that a series of rewards 

 be offered. The youth must be made to feel that 

 his work is to serve some worthy personal end. 

 This well-trained boy's reward came gradually as 

 follows: (1) parental approbation, (2) a money 

 return, (3) the praise of the neighbors, (4) the 

 joy of self-reliance and mastery. 



PROVIDE VACATIONS FOR THE BOY 



It is unreasonable to expect the growing boy to 

 have the same vital interest in the work as that of 



