378 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



CHAPTER XV. 



THE HOME AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. 



AN estimable member of the society of Friends when 

 asked why he was so particular about his daily conduct, 

 replied; "God has given me but one journey through 

 life, and I can not come back to rectify mistakes." It seems 

 to me that many farmers make a mistake which involves 

 the happiness of their lives and that of their families, by look- 

 ing upon the farm as merely something to dig money out of. 

 They become strict utilitarians, and bring every thing to the 

 standard of dollars and cents, and believe flowers, shrubbery, 

 walks, etc., to be useless vanities. 



These tendencies are likely to grow with age, until the 

 words of the poet become literally true, when he says of the 

 old farmer: 



" He had some notions which did not improve him : 

 He never kissed his children, so they say; 

 And fairest flowers and finest scenes would move him 

 Less than a horseshoe picked up by the way. 



He could see naught but vanity in beauty, 

 And only weakness in a fond caress; 

 And pitied those whose views of Christian duty 

 Allowed indulgence in such foolishness." 



I have little doubt that the utter want of attractiveness about 

 many farmers' homes, with the uncouthness bred by these sur- 

 roundings, has driven more boys from the farm than the hard 

 work. There are no pleasures so inexpensive as those which 

 can be had by surrounding a country home with trees, flowers, 

 and shrubs, and none more refining in their influence. No other 

 home brings the children so closely into communion with nature, 

 or gives so good an opportunity to train eye, mind, and hand* 



