Second. They have plenty of good wholesome work to 

 do of a constructive nature. There is nothing of the deadly 

 monotony of factory work to farm work. Tasks on the farm 

 change from day to day and boys and girls are compelled to 

 think about the work they are doing as well as to work and 

 work hard. 



It is this ability to do work and this faithfulness to the 

 task in hand which has given us in the past the successful men 

 and women which the country has produced. 



Third. They spend a large part of the day in close asso- 

 ciation with their parents. The farmer takes his boy with 

 him to the field to work or sets him at a task which he may 

 have begun himself. The mother teaches her girls the work 

 in the home. In all of this work there is a close relationship 

 between parents and children. 



Fourth. Country life affords opportunity for reflection, 

 for time to think. There is danger here that unless education 

 gives men and women something to think about they may be- 

 come petty in their thinking. 



Disadvantages of the Farm Home. The farm home pos- 

 sesses some disadvantages: (1) The long hours of labor and 

 the many tasks often leave little time or inclination for enjoy- 

 ment or recreation. Especially is it true that woman's work 

 is hard. (2) The lack of conveniences causes needless drudg- 

 ery. Often the only reason that water was not piped into the 

 house at the same time that it was piped to the barn is that the 

 idea of piping to the house was lacking. (3) The isolation of 

 farm life bears hard, especially upon women. The farmer can 

 always find an excuse to go to town or to see his neighbors,but 

 his wife must remain at home to care for the house and the 

 children. (4) Another serious disadvantage of rural life is 

 that the hired help must be taken in as members of the farm 

 family. Were hired men what they should be no objection 

 could be raised, but with so many shiftless, vicious, worthless 

 men employed as hired men the danger of their influence over 

 the children and indeed over the farm family is great. The 

 writer recalls the statement made by a man himself country 



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