258 What Schooling Should the Country Boy Have 



including a character well developed in all of its 

 essential elements, is by far the best equipment that 

 can possibly be furnished the boy for his start in 

 life. 



Now, while the growing boy's education must not 

 be especially prejudiced in favor of any particular 

 calling, there is no good reason why the farmer's 

 son should not be given the benefit of every possible 

 intimate and wholesome relation to the father's 

 work and business. That is, he must not be forced 

 to take up the vocation of farming, but he must be 

 given every opportunity to know its best meanings 

 and advantages. And if he is finally to leave for 

 some foreign occupation, he must go with a profound 

 sense of the possible worth and integrity of the calling 

 of his father. Then, in order that there may be 

 maintained most friendly relations between the farm 

 boy and the farm life, see to it that he has an occa- 

 sional outing. Widen the scope of his home environ- 

 ment by means of sending him outside occasionally. 

 Let him go off to the state and county fair and learn 

 what he can there. Let him participate in the grain 

 and stock judging contests, as heretofore recom- 

 mended. Let him attend some of the larger sales 

 of blooded stock and learn there to know more inti- 

 mately the possibilities of animal husbandry. Ac- 

 company him on a trip to the big city occasionally 

 under proper provisions and restrictions and help 

 him to acquire some valuable lesson which may be 



