6 The Farmstead 



some family relations. The most valuable part 

 of any person's education is really in the home. 

 To " help father and mother" becomes the key- 

 note of a child's life, and unselfish, willing ser- 

 vice is the first and last and best lesson of 

 morality and religion. The pride in honest and 

 capable ancestors, the natural and wholesome 

 ambition for the future of the children, fill up 

 a measure of contentment difficult to find else- 

 where. In such a family there need be nothing 

 to conceal ; life takes on dignity in place of 

 affectation, honesty instead of sham; it has sim- 

 plicity, pure affections, fidelity. Artificial sex 

 distinctions disappear ; men and women may do 

 that which is needful and human, the woman in 

 the field, the man in the house, if desirable, 

 sharing their common, healthful activities. 



All this is very well, some will say, but how 

 shall such a home be maintained on the income 

 of the farm? "Farming doesn't pay." This state- 

 ment is unverified, and, carrying on its face, as 

 it does, a little truth, is misleading. Does farm- 

 ing pay? Does anything pay? What is pay? 

 All depends upon how you value the currency 

 in which the pay is received. Is " wisdom bet- 

 ter than rubies?" Are the sayings of the wisest 

 and best of men true ? " Give me neither riches 

 nor poverty. Get wisdom, get understanding. 

 Take fast hold of instruction." 



