practical papers —attractive farming . 429 
posed. Another will see beauty in the rocks and stones, and wish 
to know of their formation, or the fragrant flowers and useful 
plants will so fascinate another that he must learn of their proper¬ 
ties and use. As the sweet notes of singing birds have inspired 
in another, a love lor the harmony of sweet sounds and music is 
ever their theme, with what delight should parents behold in 
their children their longing for knowledge of the beautiful things 
with which God has filled the earth ; and not till then the worn out 
story that there is no time on the farm for reading or studying ; 
that farmers need no education, but teach them that all these priv¬ 
ileges and pleasures are for them; that they must be physically, 
morally and intellectually fitted to do a successful life work; to 
contend with difficulties, make opportunities, control circumstances 
and create, as it were, homes and fortunes by the labor of their 
own hands ; ever conservative in all that pertains to duty, affection 
and the right; radical and progressive in all that will make happi¬ 
ness or more beautiful homes, or add excellence or wealth to our 
country. Children will be interested in farming if parents are. 
They learn much sooner than we think, what value to attach to 
their homes and its benefits; they prize the information that 
comes in books and papers, such as their parents do; they look 
upon all the sources of improvement in agriculture much as do 
the older ones of the household. Boys will talk of farmers’ clubs 
and conventions. Girls will be interested in fairs and festivals, 
and both should share in the several pleasures they create. Just 
as parents estimate all these things and profit by them, just as 
they honor their calling, so will their children soon learn to do. 
We never come so near “seeing ourselves as others see us ” as 
when we see our children reproducing in their lives the thoughts, 
the principles we have either directly or indirectly taught them. 
If we have made evident, in the surroundings of our homes, the 
desire we have for the development of all that is good and lovely 
in their character, they will grow up to love the beautiful and 
pure, and they will seek for it in the works of nature, among her 
secrets and her treasures; they will see attractions in farming that 
can be found in no other pursuit; they will choose it with delight, 
and with busy hands will do a better work than we have ever 
done, or with thinking brain will assist others to work out grander 
