The Rural Voice, 1989-05, Page 40DUMPING
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6 x 6" H -Beam 14 ft. long
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Good Used: 2 x 4, 2 x 6, 2 x 8
up to 16 ft. long. Used 3 x 6 fir
plank.
For Information and
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1
TNR E AY
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519-369-3203
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Located 5 Km South of Durham
on Hwy. 6
38 THE RURAL VOICE
Voice from the Past
It's often been said: "The more thing's change, the more they stay the same."
But farm life has certainly undergone dramatic and irreversible changes.
Writer Wayne Kelly provides evidence for both views: one, the changes in
farming and rural life have been so thorough that the past seems quaint; two,
"modern" problems really aren't so modern after all. Either way, the "voices
from the past" haven't lost their relevance.
A
s scores of young men and
women are about to graduate
from the agricultural colleges
of Ontario, it is fitting to reflect upon
the sage advice offered by William
FATHER AND SO
One of our bright young men
living in the city dropped into our
office recently for a chat on farming
matters. The young man had a
genuine case of the "back to the land"
fever. Hc was looking for a farm
location. We quote from his conver-
sation a few thoughts.
"My father was a good man and a
good farmer, and particularly good
and kind to his children," the young
man stated. "When we were children
we worked on the farm, but our lives
were made easy by the hard labour of
father and mother. We were sent to
school whenever possible. The one
thing for which my parents where to
blame in raising their children was
that they forced us into grooves of life
for which were not prepared."
"Henry was raised with the one
idea of being a lawyer, and a poor
lawyer he proved to be. My own life
was shaped for the ministry, and in
spite of my disinclination, my desire
not to offend my mother's lifelong
wishes led me to accept the charge."
"Time proved that neither my
brother nor I were fitted for the life
work for which we were prepared.
The regret of my life is that my father
did not take me into comradeship in
the conduct of the farm, that he did not
teach me the things he was a lifetime
learning, that he did not impress on
my mind the advantages of farming,
the only life for me worth living, for
now I am bound to be a farmer just as
my brother has become."
As this young man told us of this
personal history, we could not help but
Weld, editor of the old Farmer's
Advocate. Eighty-three years later, the
counsel and observations he offered
are just as appropriate as they were at
the turn of the century.
NON THE FARM
think of the many parents the country
over who are making this same mis-
take. There are many children who
leave the farm simply because their
parents do not teach them the advan-
tages of a good farm, and that a good
farmer is as much to be respected and
honoured by his fellow men as a good
lawyer or a good preacher.
We recently visited the farm of a
prominent breeder of purebred cattle.
He sent his only son, who had wanted
to leave home, to agricultural college.
When the boy came home he was full
of enthusiasm and interested in the
farm and herd. He told his father what
he had learned about farming and
stock, and made some suggestions
which the father told us really made
him money and benefitted the farm.
"My boy has decided not to leave
the farm, but he's going to stay by me
and take my place when I die" — and
there was a suspicious dampness in
the old man's eyes as he talked.
The boys and girls are the most
important crop on the farm after all,
and the farm is the best place to keep
them. They will not all stay there, but
they ought to know that the farm is not
such a bad place after all, before they
get ready to leave it.
The more we think about it, the
more we believe that the prosperity,
morality, and physical welfare of this
country depend on the farm boys and
girls. From the farm comes the clear
eye and the well-balanced intellect,
the clear mind and the moral strength.
The city needs many of them, but the
farms need to keep still more.°