204 FARM HOMES, IK-DOORS AXD OUT-DOORS. 



A genuine shepherd dog, a good-natured and a faithful 

 animal who knows almost everything, would be a capital 

 companion for the children in their sports and wander- 

 ings, and very useful for watching and for bringing up 

 the sheep and the cows. 



Every farmer should possess a workshop, with a fair 

 supply of tools. He will find it a great convenience in 

 case of simple mechanical jobs to be done ; and it will 

 seem marvellous, the amount of attraction a few boards, 

 a plane, and hammer and nails, will have for an ingenious 

 boy on a stormy day ! The garret might be fitted up for 

 a "carpenter's shop," or a small comfortable lean-to 

 might be added to the woodshed, or a part of the wood- 

 shed itself marked off for this use. The shop should be 

 well lighted, and have conveniences for a fire in cold 

 weather ; and an ungrudged supply of lumber and neces- 

 sary tools will weigh but lightly in the scales against 

 the useful occupation and the self-teaching in mechanical 

 ideas which will be afforded the boys, and the added at- 

 traction they will find in their farm 'homes. 



All work and no play not only makes Jack a dull boy, 

 but it is very apt to make him a surly and unpleasant 

 boy. We are all surly and unpleasant when we are put 

 to work week in and week out, with no breaking away 

 from the tread-mill, into the green fields of restful, happy 

 recreation, no pleasant hope or kindling aspiration fling- 

 ing its radiance over the dull, every-day things about us. 



Give Jack a share in the wheat-crop, or in the corn- 

 field, in which he has toiled. Give it to him to do as he 

 likes with, instead of spoiling the deed with the stingy 

 proviso that it must be "laid out" in brown-drilling, 

 brogans, and winter shirts ! 



Let him and his brothers and chums try a week or two 

 of "camping out " in the pleasant fall weather ; and go 

 sometimes yourself, my farmer, and try the taste of 

 broiled quail and squirrel-stew under the forest trees, A 



